Case against 4 doctors for negligence, failed to detect child's disease before birth

The FIR was registered under BNS Sections 125 and 125B, which relate to negligent acts endangering human life or personal safety.

Doctors Booked For Medical Negligence: Police in Kerala's Alappuzha have registered a case against 4 doctors for not detecting genetic disorders of the newborn before birth. The FIR was filed on November 26 based on a complaint by the child's father. The two accused were identified as Pushpa and Shirley, both doctors at the Women and Children Hospital, Alappuzha. The other two accused were unnamed doctors of private laboratories — Midas Healthcare and Scanning Laboratory and Shankar Health Scan and Diagnostics.

Under which section was the case made?

The FIR was registered under sections 125 and 125B of the Indian Penal Code, which relate to negligent acts endangering human life or personal safety. The health department has ordered a departmental inquiry by the Additional Director of Health Services, alleging that doctors had failed to detect genetic disorders while the child was still in the womb.

What did the child's mother say?

Addressing the media on Thursday, the child's mother said, "I got a child with multiple abnormalities. The child does not open his eyes and has severe deformities in his genitals. None of the doctors informed me about this issue," he said. The baby was born at the Government Medical College Hospital in Alappuzha on November 8.

During the pregnancy, the complainant mother was undergoing treatment under the supervision of Dr. Pushpa. On the doctor's advice, the pregnant woman underwent scans at Midas Lab on 3 occasions in the months of March, April and May. The mother also decided to consult another doctor, Shirley, who asked her to get scans from Shankar Healthcare Scan and Diagnostics 4 times from July to early November. Dr. Shirley also saw the scan report, but no abnormality was found in the foetus.

What happened to the child?

On Dr Shirley's advice, the woman was admitted for delivery at a government hospital on October 30. Three days later, they were referred to the Medical College Hospital after the foetus reported an irregular heartbeat. The baby was born on November 8 through a caesarean section.