Major allegations of medical negligence have emerged after a one-year-old child, who suffered head injuries, was reportedly denied treatment at NIMHANS Hospital in Bengaluru due to a lack of available beds.
The child, belonging to Venkatesh and Jyoti from Basavanagudi in Chikkamagaluru, fell from a height of 10 feet in Hassan and was initially admitted to the district hospital there. However, doctors at Hassan advised shifting the child to NIMHANS in Bengaluru for further treatment.
Despite the urgency, a well-coordinated effort was made and zero-traffic route was created to transport the child from Hassan to NIMHANS, the ambulance driver covered a distance of 224 km in just 1 hour and 40 minutes. The Hassan doctor had reportedly informed NIMHANS about the child's critical condition.
Upon reaching NIMHANS, hospital officials allegedly claimed there were no available beds and directed the parents to take the child to another private hospital. Unfortunately, the child succumbed to the injuries while in the ambulance, half an hour later. The parents expressed their anguish, asserting that timely treatment could have saved the child's life.
The incident has triggered public outrage, with demands for an investigation into the alleged negligence by NIMHANS officials. Health Minister of Karnataka, Dinesh Gundurao, stated, "The traffic in NIMHANS Hospital has increased. Doctors are providing quality treatment despite the pressure. I will gather more information about the child's death."