Over a month after Lakshay went into coma ahead of a surgery in Bengaluru, the investigation into the medical negligence case filed by his father has not made any progress.
Five-year-old Lakshay, who studies in Bishop Cotton's Boys School, hurt two of his fingers while playing by himself in class. School officials took him to Mallya Hospital which recommended a plastic surgery to restore one of his fingers and an amputation for the other. However, he reportedly went into a coma after anaesthesia was administered. Lakshay was in a vegetative state for about three weeks but is now able to open his eyes. He is also breathing on his own as the doctors have done a deccanulation.
Purushottam, the boy's father lodged a complaint at the Cubbon park police station accusing Mallya hospital of negligence.
“It has been over three weeks but I haven't heard anything from the police after the FIR was filed. My wife and I are busy with attending to our son in the hospital. I am ready to cooperate with the police in the enquiry but I haven't heard from them since the FIR was filed,” he said.
DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil told The News Minute that the police were waiting for the hospital’s medical board to complete its inquiry.
“An FIR was filed in the case immediately. However, we can take further action on Mallya Hospital based on medical board’s reply on the case,” he said.
This is despite the chief minister’s office writing to the Bengaluru on July 1, asking police to act upon the complaint filed by the boy’s parents and update them about the action taken.
At present, Lakshay’s parents have little to do but wait and hope. “He is being fed liquid food through a pipe. He opens his eyes for about 10 minutes every day but does not recognise any of us. He can't be made to sit up as his head is not alright. Doctors are slowly losing hope. They are still maintaining that it is hard for Lakshay's condition to improve,” says Purushottam.
Purushottam, who is the only earning member in the family, has closed his printing press temporarily as he spends most of his day in Manipal hospital. “After a lot of media coverage the parents of students in Bishop Cotton's boys school have pooled in money to support Lakshay's treatment,” he said.