A six-year-old girl's leg had to be amputated allegedly due to gross medical negligence by the doctors of Neelima Hospital in Sanathnagar, Hyderabad. Though the incident took place last month, it came to light only now as the police allegedly tried to hush-up the case because TRS MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy is one of the Directors of the hospital.
According to a report in Andhra Jyothy, on May 13, the girl identified as Akshara, a resident of BK Guda, suffered an injury to her right leg after a cupboard fell on her while she was playing at home. Her parents —Chandrashekhar and Pavani, immediately rushed her to Neelima Hospitals. The doctors there after doing basic treatment like cleaning the wound and wrapping a bandage around it, discharged Akshara on the same evening. However, the girl complained of pain in her leg the next day. The parents noticed that her leg had turned blue and took her again to the same hospital. However, the doctors allegedly refused to treat her. She was then taken to Yashoda Hospital in Somajiguda. The doctors there said that her leg was infected and had to be amputated. The parents then took her to several hospitals. Finally, she was taken to KIMS hospital, according to Deccan Chronicle, where the doctors said that they would be able to save the girl only if they amputate her leg.
Alleging medical negligence by the doctors at Neelima Hospital, the girl's parents lodged a complaint with the Sanath Nagar police on May 25.
The police registered a case under section IPC 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life). However, they refused to share details about the incident, and called it an ‘old case’ raked up by the local media.
When TNM tried to get details about the case, Sanathnagar Inspector Chandra Sekhar Reddy hung up the phone. Numerous attempts later, this reporter couldn’t reach him.
Balanagar DCP PV Padmaja, however, said that they filed a case and have written to the Telangana Medical Council. “The case is under investigation. We have to wait for a report from the Telangana Medical Council to ascertain if the hospital indeed was at fault,” she told TNM.
She however added that it was an ‘old case’ which is being highlighted by local media.
There have been allegations against police that they are resorting to a cover-up because Neelima Hospital belongs to an important leader from the ruling party.