Infants' death: 4 including 2 doctors blamed for negligence

A probe ordered to look into the death of five newborns at Civil Hospital here, has blamed two doctors and two other employees for "negligence" in performing their duties.
An inquiry report submitted by Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal has blamed Gynaecologist Dr Alka Mittal, Pediatrician Dr Yogesh Khanna, staff nurse Rajni and class-four employee Kanta for their negligence.
The report, submitted to Vikas Garg, Special Secretary, Health and Family welfare, Punjab today, fixed the responsibility on Mittal for the death of two newborns while the rest of cases were found to be intra-uterine (IUD) deaths.
Five newborns had died on November 23 at Mother Child Health Care unit of Civil Hospital Ludhiana during the time of delivery, which the families alleged were carried out by "class IV employees in the absence of gynaecologists".

The report has also recommended compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to two families of victims.
Senior Medical Officer, Dr R K Karka of the hospital was also held responsible for "supervisory inefficiency" by the inquiry report.

Aggarwal in his report also said that the hospital was "badly short of staff" and needed equipment, apart from essential facilities such as operation theatre and an ICU.
The probe was ordered by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal.
The state government suspended Dr Mittal and transferred Senior Medical Officer Dr R K Karkara after the incident.