Failure of foetus's diagnosis: Kerala labs shut, licences cancelled

Alappuzha: In the case of doctors failing to diagnose the genetic abnormalities of a newborn here in Kerala, the state health department closed and sealed two scanning centres. When it is required that scanning reports of patients must be kept by them for two years the health department found that the two centres, Midas Health Care and Scanning Laboratory and Shankar’s Health Scans and Diagnostic, did not follow the norm. The department, which initiated an inspection on the two centres after direction from the state Health Minister Veena George, couldn’t find the scan records and cancelled their licence.

Further investigation on the case is going on and more action will be taken after a report is submitted.

Earlier, in the case of failing to detect genetic disorders in the newborn police booked four doctors and registered an FIR, The Indian Express reported. The father of the child filed a complaint on November 26, and the case was registered based on the same. The two of the booked doctors were identified as Pushpa and Sherly of the Women and Children’s Hospital, Alappuzha, while the remaining two were doctors at private laboratories.

The case was registered under sections 125 and 125b of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) under charges of rash and negligent acts that endanger human life or personal safety.

Meanwhile, on the allegations of failure to detect genetic abnormalities while the baby was in the womb against the doctors, the state health department ordered a departmental inquiry by the Additional Director of Health Services.

Addressing the media on Thursday, the mother of the baby said: “I got a child with several abnormalities. The baby does not open its eyes, and its genitals have serious deformities. None of the doctors informed me about the issues.”