Pilibhit, January 30 – A two-day-old infant tragically died after allegedly being administered expired dextrose (glucose) at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Pilibhit District Women’s Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. The incident has sparked protests and led to multiple investigations.
Incident Details
- The baby boy, born on January 26 in Khaprail Gautiya village, was rushed to the hospital at 12:30 AM after he stopped breastfeeding and showed signs of weakness.
- His father, Aman Singh, accused the hospital staff of administering expired dextrose, producing a photograph of the bottle showing an expiry date of May 2024.
- The baby was referred to a higher facility, but died en route to a private hospital just 1.5 km away.
Protests & Official Response
- The incident triggered public outrage, with family members and locals protesting outside the hospital.
- Chief Medical Officer (CMO) ordered an urgent probe, with a report due within 24 hours.
- District Hospital Superintendent Dr. Rajesh Kumar denied the presence of expired medicines in hospital stock but promised a thorough investigation into the source of the dextrose bottle.
- Pilibhit Kotwali SHO Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that the infant’s body has been sent for an autopsy, and further action, including an FIR, will depend on the inquiry and autopsy findings.
Key Questions & Next Steps
- Was the dextrose actually expired? A forensic analysis of the bottle and hospital stock records will be crucial.
- If not expired, was there a medical error? Analyzing hospital procedures will help determine if there was negligence or mismanagement.
- Will legal action be taken? An FIR may be filed based on the autopsy and inquiry findings.
