Toddler dies after anaesthesia for lip stitch; anaesthetist booked

Kannur: An 18-month-old boy died at a private hospital in Kannur five days after he reportedly developed complications following anaesthesia for a minor lip injury.

The toddler, identified as Devansh Shouria, had been treated at Baby Memorial Hospital after his condition deteriorated during a procedure at the hospital’s Payyannur branch. Devansh, the only child of T. Suraj and Vijisha of Mathamangalam in Eramam-Kuttoor panchayat, was born after eight years of marriage.

Family members said the child sustained a cut on his lip after a fall on July 5 and was taken to the Payyannur facility, where doctors decided to stitch the wound under anaesthesia. According to the relatives, his condition worsened soon after the anaesthesia was administered and he did not regain consciousness. He was later moved to the hospital’s Kannur unit for specialised care and died at about 9 p.m. on Friday.

Payyannur police have registered a case against the anaesthetist, Dr. Anjali Poduval, following a complaint by the child’s relative, K. Rajeevan. The case was filed under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which covers acts endangering human life or personal safety and carries a maximum sentence of three months’ imprisonment. An investigation is under way.

Baby Memorial Hospital denied negligence, saying Devansh suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest immediately after receiving anaesthesia. The hospital said doctors provided emergency treatment, placed the child on ventilator support and transferred him to the Kannur unit for critical care. The statement added that standard medical protocols were followed and that such complications, though rare, can occur.

(Inputs from IANS)