No medical negligence in death of 18 babies: Inquiry report

Kolkata, Jul 2: There was no medical negligence in the death of 18 babies at the state-run B C Roy Children's Hospital here but the infrastructure was not up to the mark, a probe panel said on Thursday, Jul 1.

"No medical negligence or human lapse was found on inquiry," Health Secretary M N Roy told reporters at Swasthya Bhavan after the government probed the deaths at the eastern region''s largest paediatric referral hospital.

Noting that most of the babies were brought to the hospital in a "very critical condition", he said 13 of those who died had respiratory trouble and four low birth weight.

Roy said the inquiry report stressed on need for development of medical infrastructure in the hospital where a special unit was supposed to be built for new-born babies.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who holds the health portfolio, yesterday ordered an inquiry into the death of the babies and warned of stern action against anybody found guilty.

Families of the babies and local people barged in yesterday and blocked the road before the hospital before being dispersed by police.

PTI