IGMH investigates child death caused allegedly by nurse negligence

The family of a three-year-old child who died at IGM Hospital have accused nurses of having caused the child’s death due to negligence.

A person who spoke on behalf of the child’s family explained that the child was taken to ADK Hospital on Saturday morning due to high fever, but had to be transferred to IGMH due to lack of space at ADK ward.

The child was receiving IV drips at IGMH Emergency, and the family complained to the nurses because the drip appeared to be slow. The nurses replied that the machine will sound an alarm if the IV stopped running.

When the doctor checked the child that afternoon, blood pressure was low; and at 8:50pm, the doctor said that the child should be taken to ICU as the condition had not improve.

However the doctor’s advice was not followed and the child was not taken to ICU.

When the family asked the nurses to check on the child’s condition, they had replied that the child was interfering with their responsibility to care for other patients, and that only the doctor would know the child’s situation.

When the family repeatedly asked the nurses, they called a doctor, who came and further treated the child and transferred the child to another room.

The doctors informed the family about one hour after the transfer, that they had lost the child’s heartbeat and will work for about ten minutes to get it back.

The family said that there were about four doctors present at that time, and after a while they asked the child’s mother and a helper to enter the room where the child was being kept. When they went in, the child was dead.

An official of IGMH said that the matter is under investigation following the family’s complaint, and that action will be taken if necessary.