AnyTV News 4 doctors failed to test the child for genetic disorder before birth, FIR registered -

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A case has been registered against four doctors in Kerala for failing to detect serious deformities in a newborn baby. Police said the doctors who have been accused include two women doctors from the Cuddapuram Government Women and Children’s Hospital in Alappuzha and two doctors from a private testing laboratory. Police registered an FIR on Tuesday based on a complaint by Aneesh and Surumi, a couple from Alappuzha. The doctors have been booked under various sections of the Indian Justice Code (BNS), including endangering the life or personal safety of others. The two doctors accused in the case operated two ‘scan centres’.

State Health Department ordered investigation

Meanwhile, the state health department has also ordered an investigation into the matter. Health Minister Veena George said a special team led by the additional director of the health department will investigate allegations that anomalies in the baby were not detected during antenatal check-up at the Women and Children’s Hospital in Alappuzha. After the matter came to light on Wednesday, the Minister directed the Director of the Health Department to immediately start an investigation. According to the official release, investigation is already being conducted at the district level. The ‘scanning centers’ related to the case will also be involved in the investigation. “If any lapse is found during the investigation, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” the minister said.

Baby shown 4 days after delivery

The couple alleged that the doctors failed to detect serious malformations during prenatal checkup and instead assured them that the reports were normal. According to the complaint, the couple also claimed that they were shown the baby only four days after delivery. The FIR said 35-year-old Surumi was admitted to Kadapuram Women and Children’s Hospital for delivery on October 30. However, citing no fetal movement and heartbeat, she was referred to the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) at Vandanam in Alappuzha, it said. The FIR stated that the child was born after surgery at MCH on November 8 and was found to have severe internal and external deformities.

What did the accused doctor say?

Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations, one of the accused doctors said that he had treated Surumi only during the initial month of pregnancy. The doctor said, “I took care of her for the first three months of her pregnancy.” The report shown to me indicated problems in the development of the fetus.” However, doctors associated with the testing laboratory said that there was no mistake in the report. Reacting to the matter, an official of the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) said that an investigation is underway and the true facts of the incident should come out.