Newborns’ death: Ad-din probe only blames nurse, janitor

The internal investigation report of Ad-din Medical College Hospital blamed two low-level staff members for the deaths of six newborns, while absolving senior officials and management of responsibility, in sharp contrast to the findings of the government probe committee.

According to the Ad-din probe report, the newborns were in stable condition the previous night, but the nurse assigned to the post-operative room did not properly monitor them, resulting in a delay in transferring them to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

It also blamed a hospital janitor for failing to take the babies to the Neonatal Emergency unit in a timely manner.

However, the five-member committee did not mention anything about possible operational or administrative failures or the structural conditions of the hospital building or the post-operative room, issues highlighted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) probe.

The Ad-din committee also indicated that the hospital did not have a standard operating procedure (SOP) for operating air-conditioning systems in the post-operative room and suggested preparing one. This finding contrasts with an earlier claim by a senior hospital official, who told this correspondent that such a protocol existed.

The six newborns, aged between one and four days, died between 5:00am and 9:00am on May 27, triggering widespread public outrage and prompting health authorities to shut down the post-operative room and form two investigation committees.

The DGHS probe committee found clear negligence by hospital authorities, nurses, and staff, as well as the absence of an on-duty physician, to be responsible for the deaths of the six newborns, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain told reporters on Thursday, citing the probe report.

The committee found that severe overcrowding in a small post-operative room, coupled with an air conditioner remaining switched off for a prolonged period and the absence of any alternative ventilation system, created conditions unsuitable for the survival of newborns.

Additionally, the building’s infrastructure was unsuitable for operating as a 700-bed healthcare facility, and the post-operative ward in question was wholly inadequate for providing post-operative care, it said.

It also found that those responsible for hospital administration had failed to comply with the basic requirements for operating the facility.

The DGHS, on the same day, issued a show-cause notice to the hospital, seeking an explanation within 5:00pm today as to why its licence should not be cancelled over the deaths.

The Ad-din committee, led by Prof Afiqur Rahman, an adviser to the Ad-din Foundation that runs the hospital, said its air-conditioner technician inspected the system and found no evidence of leakage.

According to the report, during routine rounds of Post-Operative Ward-2 at around 10:00pm on May 26, the on-duty doctor examined the mothers and newborns and observed no abnormalities.

The report said the on-duty nurse switched off the air-conditioner around 2:00am after the mother of one newborn requested it. It was turned back on around 3:00am, meaning it remained off for about one hour.

At around 4:00am, one newborn began crying and was immediately taken to the Neonatal Emergency unit. After checking the baby’s vital signs, the duty doctor found the newborn stable and sent the baby back to the post-operative ward, according to the report.

During a follow-up at around 6:00am, the on-duty nurse found one newborn in critical condition and arranged to transfer the babies to the Neonatal Emergency unit one by one with assistance from their guardians.

The first newborn taken to the emergency unit was declared dead after resuscitation efforts failed. Four others were later shifted to the NICU and placed on life support but could not be saved, the report said.

The report added that the guardians of the sixth baby were advised to take the baby to the emergency unit but they did so only around 8:30am.

“Had the nurse followed up on the newborns between 4:00am and 6:00am, it would have been possible to transfer them to the NICU in time and provide treatment,” the report said.

The report also said a janitor had been “not responsible enough” in transferring the babies from the post-operative ward to the emergency unit.

The committee recommended suspending both the duty nurse and the janitor.

COMPENSATION

Meanwhile, the families, many of whom had previously accused the hospital of mismanagement leading to the deaths in media statements, held a joint press conference at a city hotel with senior hospital officials.

The deaths of six newborns were the result of “unexpected negligence”, said Shishir Manir, a lawyer for the victims’ families, who initiated mediation between the victims’ families and the hospital.

He said the hospital authorities have also decided to provide lifelong free treatment and adequate compensation to the victims’ families, among other measures.

The victims’ families wanted those responsible for the deaths to be punished, but also wanted the hospital’s services to remain operational, said Shishir, well-known Supreme Court lawyer and a Jamaat-e-Islami leader.

He said the hospital authorities have already suspended two staffers in connection with the incident and will take steps, following the recommendation of the internal probe committee, to prevent such an incident.

Habibur Rahman, one of the victims’ fathers who filed a police case over the incident, said they want those responsible for the deaths to be punished but do not want the hospital’s services to be stopped.

When journalists asked whether they had been “managed by the hospital authorities with money or force”, he rejected the allegation.

“Except for the benefits announced for us, we did not get any money. We don’t want people to suffer because of the closure of the hospital,” he said.

Regarding the show-cause notice issued by DGHS, Shishir said the notice is “unlawful”, and that they would respond legally. He said they would seek personal hearing with the DGHS over the notice.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Sakhawat yesterday stressed that the government’s show-cause notice to Ad-din Medical College Hospital adhered to the relevant laws and regulations.

“We are thoroughly examining the legal provisions, the regulations governing hospital establishment and all relevant laws. Based on our observations, we are moving forward firmly and in compliance with the law,” Sakhawat said at a press briefing at his official residence.

“If we receive the response tomorrow [Sunday] afternoon, we will proceed accordingly. If they fail to reply, we will see what the law provides and act accordingly,” he added.

Responding to a question about some victim family members attending a press conference alongside the hospital representatives, where they demanded that the hospital not be shut down, he said this would not weaken the case against the hospital.

“An offence has occurred, and six babies have died. A case has been filed, and we are the authority responsible for issuing hospital licences. The hospital has committed wrongdoing,” he added.