Kannur: The parents of a one-and-a-half-year-old boy who allegedly died after being administered anaesthesia for a minor lip injury have appealed to the Kerala government to expedite the investigation into the case, claiming there was medical negligence during treatment.
The child, Devansh Shouria, a native of Eramam in Kannur district, sustained a lip injury while playing on July 5. He was taken to a private hospital in Payyannur, where doctors reportedly advised suturing the wound under anaesthesia.
Child dies after being shifted to another hospital
According to the family’s complaint, Devansh became unconscious soon after the anaesthesia was administered. He was immediately shifted to another hospital in Kannur for advanced treatment, where he later died.
Following the complaint, Payyannur Police registered a case against anaesthetist Dr. Anjali Poduval. The investigation is currently underway.
Family alleges medical negligence
The child’s father, Sooraj, claimed that a district-level medical expert panel constituted to examine the case found evidence of negligence.
According to him, three of the five panel members concluded that there had been negligence on the part of the doctors, while one member found no negligence and another gave a neutral opinion. The report has since been forwarded to the state-level medical panel for further action.
The family has also demanded that two other doctors involved in the child’s treatment be included as accused in the case.
Appeal for speedy investigation
Last week, Sooraj met Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and sought the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. He has also urged the government to expedite the investigation, stating that he will continue pursuing justice for his son.
Police officials said the expert medical panel’s findings are crucial, as the case involves allegations of medical negligence.
Meanwhile, the hospital has denied any negligence, stating that the child suffered a cardiac arrest after receiving anaesthesia. It maintained that doctors immediately placed the toddler on ventilator support before shifting him to another hospital for further treatment.