More than five months after a nine-year-old boy died in a Hyderabad hospital, his family allege that a case of medical negligence is being covered up, as no action has been taken against the hospital in all these months. Despite such a long period having elapsed after the boy’s death, they say, the forensic report for the case has still not been produced.
On January 27, Hardik Jena was admitted to Olive Hospital when he cut his hand on a glass pane at Glendale Academy International School, where doctors recommended that the he should undergo surgery. After undergoing the surgery at around 7.30pm on that day, Hardik’s condition rapidly deteriorated, and he died on January 28.
Ashish Jena, Hardik’s father, told The News Minute, that he received a copy of a postmortem report, dated January 29, only in April. The report, he further said, did not provide the cause of death, only mentioning that the forensic report on the case was still pending.
“Earlier when we were waiting for the postmortem report, the police didn't take any action against the hospital saying that they are also waiting for the postmortem report. But when the postmortem report is out they are saying they are waiting for the forensic reports. Now, my question is, it’s been almost six months; why are the doctors not able to produce the forensic report?'' he said.
He added, ''After the tragic incident, we are the ones still struggling and suffering, and I see hospital is still carrying on as usual. I think there is something fishy going on.”
He said that when he had first spoken to the police, he had been told that the reports would be available no later than 60 days. “And when there is delay, I suspect there is impact to evidence. I have been asking the police from the day one to collect the video recording, heart beat records and oxygen recording report for the day Hardik was in the operation theater(OT) and the next day, but I do not see those recordings with the police. Oxygen report and heart beat report are the most important evidence in this case.”
He further alleged that despite numerous requests from him to do so, the police had not taken the CCTV footage from the hospital. “Though the police say they are helping, it is not visible to me,” he said.
Mohammad Zaheed, Sub-Inspector told The News Minute, that the forensic reports were still awaited, and he did not know why the reports had been delayed for such a long period. As for the CCTV footage, he said, “We are trying to get the CCTV footage from the hospital, but we have been busy with other cases. We hope to get the CCTV footage soon.”