Mangalore: Baby found alive before burial, dies

Mangalore, Aug 25: A male baby, born prematurely at a private hospital here and allegedly declared dead by doctors, was found to be alive just before burial, following which he was admitted to another hospital where he died last evening, police said on Monday.

Gauri, a resident of Kumbala in the district, had a premature delivery on August 15 at a private hospital in nearby Deralakatte and the baby was kept in an incubator as he was suffering from congenital kidney failure and was in a critical condition, police said.

According to the parents, the doctors pronounced the baby 'dead' on August 23, police said. When the baby was taken for burial, the parents found him to be alive when he gulped the milk poured into his mouth as part of the rituals.

The baby was rushed to another hospital here, but its life could not be saved by doctors. The infant died last evening, they said. However, the doctors at the hospital said they had never pronounced the baby 'dead' and the parents got the baby discharged on their own volition.

The baby was suffering from congenital kidney failure and was in a critical condition. The baby was later put on ventilator, but its condition worsened.

A neurosonogram showed intraventricular haemorrhage and the chances of recovery were remote, which was explained to the parents, who did not wish to continue the treatment, a hospital statement claimed, adding the baby was discharged on request.

PTI