Rats Allegedly Nibble Off Four Fingers of Newborn Girl at Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital

A tribal outfit has claimed that rats nibbled off the fingers of a newborn girl at Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital. This incident has raised serious concerns regarding hospital safety and administration accountability.

Following the tragic death of a newborn girl at Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital (MYH), a tribal group has accused the hospital of misleading the public. They claim rats bit off four fingers of the infant. Officials reported that on the night between August 31 and September 1, rats attacked two newborn girls with congenital deformities in MYH's ICU, leading to their deaths.

The families of these infants hail from Dewas and Dhar districts, which are adjacent to Indore. Devram's daughter from Dhar district was admitted to MYH's ICU due to congenital issues. After her death, her body was returned to the family in a plastic bag. Upon opening it before her funeral, they discovered that rats had bitten off all four fingers on one hand.

Allegations and Hospital's Response

Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) national president Lokesh Mujalda accused MYH of initially deceiving the parents by downplaying the severity of the rat bites. The hospital administration has been under fire for alleged negligence but maintains that the deaths were unrelated to rat bites. They attribute the fatalities to severe health conditions stemming from congenital deformities.

Mujalda claims that rat bites led to severe infections in the infants, resulting in their painful deaths from septicemia. He has called for a thorough investigation into the deaths, urging the District Magistrate to form a team of expert doctors for an audit. This audit would examine all aspects of the deaths to scientifically determine their true causes.

Demands for Accountability

Mujalda has demanded the suspension of senior officials, including MYH's dean and superintendent, and called for charges of culpable homicide against them. He warned that tribal communities might protest if these demands are not met. MYH is linked with Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College in Indore.

Dr. Arvind Ghanghoria, dean of the college, denied allegations against hospital authorities regarding the injuries. "I shared with the media the initial information given to me by MYH officials regarding the incident. A three-member committee of expert doctors has done the postmortem of the body of a newborn girl. This has already clarified the whole situation," he stated.

Hospital's Measures Post-Incident

Dr. Ghanghoria mentioned that following this incident, significant changes are being implemented at MYH concerning cleanliness, pest control, and security to prevent future occurrences. So far, disciplinary actions have been taken against six officials involved in this case, including suspensions and removals from their positions.

The situation highlights serious concerns about hospital safety and accountability in handling such sensitive cases. The demand for a transparent investigation remains strong among those affected by this tragic event.

With inputs from PTI