Newborn Baby Dies From Severe Razor Cut On Head During Delivery, Family Alleges Negligence

A newborn died Saturday after sustaining a serious razor cut on the head at the time of delivery, the baby's family alleged. The incident took place in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The baby's next-of-kin staged a protest against the team of Sub District Hospital (SDH) in Tanghdar on Sunday, accusing them of negligence. Abid Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that his sister was admitted to the hospital Friday evening following which she gave birth to a baby boy Saturday morning.

“We were shocked to see blood oozing out from the head of the infant. Seeing the infant’s deteriorating condition, the health team referred the infant to District Hospital (DH) Handwara for specialised treatment,” Ahmad said. “The doctors at DH Handwara after seeing the condition of the infant referred the infant to Srinagar for advanced treatment but due to blood loss, the infant died near Pattan.”

“They didn’t cater to my sister and baby well and it is because of their callous approach and negligence that we are made to witness this moment,” Ahmad reportedly said, adding that it was his sister's first child.

A senior doctor at District Hospital Handwara said that a minor cut could be seen on the head of the infant. The condition of the mother remains unknown.

Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Karnah Gulzar Ahmad Rather refuted the claims of any medical negligence by the team of doctors.

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara told Rising Kashmir that a team of experts will be visiting the hospital to conduct an investigation on the incident.

In August, a newborn baby died after being kept on a warmer for hours. The family of the infant accused the hospital staff of negligence and murder. The incident took place in Kaushumbi, a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The family claimed that the staff at the hospital was busy on their cellphones while the baby boy was kept on the warmer. They also allege that the staff noticed the baby only when smoke emanated from the machine. The baby was burned on the chest, back and abdomen, and had succumbed to the injuries.