Family blocks road near Shishu Bhawan Square demanding action; hospital denies negligence, police await postmortem report
Tension prevailed near Shishu Bhawan Square in Bhubaneswar on Friday after the family of a nine-year-old boy, who died during treatment at a private hospital, staged a road blockade alleging medical negligence and demanding strict action against the hospital authorities.
According to the family, the child, a resident of Samantarapur, was admitted to the private hospital on Thursday after complaining of severe headache and repeated vomiting. They alleged that his condition deteriorated during treatment, following which he was placed on ventilator support.
The family further claimed that doctors later informed them the child had been brain dead for the past two days. On Friday morning, the hospital declared the minor dead.
Accusing the hospital of negligence, the grieving family demanded action against the treating doctor and the hospital management. They also alleged that the hospital initially refused to issue a death certificate, stating that the child had not been declared clinically dead.
The hospital administration denied all allegations of negligence. A doctor associated with the treatment stated that the child was brought to the hospital in a brain-dead condition and was managed according to standard medical protocols. The doctor further alleged that while the family initially wanted to shift the patient to another hospital, some individuals later entered the premises, misbehaved with the medical staff and demanded the immediate issuance of a death certificate.
Following the child’s death, family members and supporters staged a protest outside the hospital and blocked the road near Shishu Bhawan Square, disrupting traffic for several hours and causing heavy congestion in the area.
Police personnel reached the spot, pacified the protesters and restored normal traffic movement. Officials said the child’s body was sent to Capital Hospital for postmortem examination. They added that further legal action will be taken based on the postmortem findings and any formal complaint received from the family.
