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In a serious case of medical negligence, a newborn baby's feet were nibbled by rats in Maharaja Yeshwantrao, a government-run hospital in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, prompting the facility's management to order a probe, officials said.
The 19-day old premature baby's mother had gone to feed the newborn when she noticed the baby's feet and toes were bleeding on Tuesday.
The staff on duty got the baby examined by a plastic surgeon after the mother alarmed them about the incident and after investigation, it was confirmed that a toe and a finger of the child have been bitten by a rat.
"I informed the nursing staff. The nursing staff cleaned the toes and feet and put a bandage on them. A toe of the baby has completely eaten by rats," said Kishan Dahima, the baby's father.
Following the incident, a nurse was suspended for negligence and two sanitation workers were sacked.
"A nurse...has been suspended for negligence of duty and two sanitation workers have been terminated for failing to maintain cleanliness at the hospital," said the hospital's superintendent, PS Thakur.
Thakur said the baby was being treated for the injuries and his condition is stable now. He added a three-member committee has been formed to probe into the matter.
Notably, MY Hospital has been infamous for rat infestation.