A six-month-old baby boy passed away after receiving anesthesia for an ear-piercing procedure at Bommalapura Primary Health Centre in Karnataka on Monday morning. The incident has sparked allegations of medical negligence against the attending doctor, with the grieving parents calling for strict action.
The infant's parents, Anand and Shubha from Hangala village, had taken their son to the government-run health center for the customary ear-piercing ritual, as per a report on Deccan Herald. However, after the doctor injected anesthesia into both ears, the baby reportedly fell unconscious. He was immediately rushed to a taluk hospital for emergency treatment but was declared dead upon arrival.
Blaming anesthesia for their child's death, the parents accused the doctor of failing to follow proper medical protocols. They also alleged that he charged Rs 200 for the procedure and are demanding his dismissal along with suitable compensation for their loss, reported Udayavani.
This incident has raised fresh concerns over anesthesia-related fatalities in medical procedures. Last year, a similar case of alleged medical negligence was reported in Hyderabad, where a seven-year-old boy, Adan Michael, died due to an alleged overdose of anesthesia at a private hospital, reported The Hindu. Adan had been admitted for throat surgery after experiencing pain while eating. Following anesthesia administration, he reportedly developed severe complications and succumbed. The SR Nagar police registered a case against the hospital in connection with his death.
In another incident last year, a four-year-old boy died after anesthesia was administered to him in Malappuram.
With the Bommalapura case now under scrutiny, authorities are expected to investigate whether due medical procedures were followed. The tragedy has once again highlighted the need for stringent regulations and oversight in the administration of anesthesia, particularly in non-critical procedures.