A FOUR-day-old infant died at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here on Monday morning after being found hanging from the wires of a medical device inside the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). With the newborn’s family members alleging negligence against the on-duty staff, the Assam government ordered an inquiry into the incident. GMCH authorities are also conducting probe into the matter.

 

Terming the incident unfortunate, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said a thorough inquiry will be conducted into the incident. He said the probe will be conducted by a three-member committee, comprising additional chief secretary S Sangson, the director of medical education and an AIIMS doctor. GMCH principal Dr Achyut Baishya said the baby was born in the hospital on Friday and diagnosed with an infection. “The baby had developed jaundice, which is common in newborns. Accordingly, she was being given photo-therapy at the NICU when the unfortunate incident occurred this morning,” he said. Dr Baishya said the on-duty nurse was inside the glass room in the NICU, preparing milk for the babies as it was feeding time. “Some of the mothers came to feed their babies, and it was one of them who apparently spotted one infant lying on the floor and the other hanging by the wires. The second infant could not be resuscitated. The infant who was found on the floor was unharmed,” the principal said.