FIR alleges ex-medical officer failed to stop anti-leprosy medicines despite signs of liver damage; family claims child was wrongly diagnosed and treated without consent.
A former medical officer at a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Maharashtra’s Raigad district has been booked for alleged medical negligence following the death of a nine-year-old girl who reportedly suffered an adverse reaction to anti-leprosy medicines administered during a government screening campaign.
According to police, the case relates to the death of a Class IV student from a government ashram school in Varvane village and a resident of Tambdi village. She was identified as a suspected leprosy patient during a health screening programme conducted at the PHC in Kamarli village and was subsequently started on multidrug anti-leprosy treatment under the state’s leprosy elimination campaign.
During the course of treatment, the child reportedly developed persistent fever and her condition gradually deteriorated. She was admitted to multiple government hospitals before being referred to a tertiary care hospital, where she died on January 22, 2025.
Police alleged that the former medical officer failed to discontinue the anti-leprosy medication despite the child developing warning signs during treatment. An FIR has been registered, alleging that the failure to take timely medical action contributed to the deterioration of her condition.
The FIR also refers to the findings of a medical negligence committee constituted by the Alibaug District Hospital. In a report submitted in July 2026, the committee reportedly observed that laboratory investigations had indicated liver damage at an early stage of treatment. According to the report, the anti-leprosy medication should have been stopped immediately, but investigators found no evidence that the treatment was discontinued.
Meanwhile, the girl’s family has alleged that she was wrongly diagnosed with leprosy and administered medication without obtaining their consent. They have also demanded an investigation into the role of other Health Department officials and the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) authorities in the matter.
Police have registered a case against the former medical officer under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to causing death by a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide. Investigators alleged that the doctor failed to follow accepted medical standards and necessary precautions, resulting in the child’s worsening health and subsequent death.
Despite the registration of the FIR, the victim’s family launched an indefinite hunger strike outside the Pen Sub-Divisional Office, alleging that they had not been provided a copy of the FIR. The protest received support from local residents and activists, who demanded greater transparency and a comprehensive investigation into the case.
