Kerala Boy Dies After Anaesthesia For Lip Cut, Hospital Claims Cardiac Arrest

An 18-month-old boy who fell unconscious after being given anaesthesia at a hospital in Kerala's Kannur has died, with the police registering a case against a doctor after the family alleged medical negligence. 

Devansh Shaurya, the only child of T Suraj and Vijisha, residents of Eramam-Kuttoor in Kannur, had suffered a cut on his lip after falling while playing outside his home on July 5. He was first rushed to the primary health centre in Mathamangalam and given first aid.

He was later taken to the Baby Memorial Hospital in Payyannur, where his wound was stitched under anaesthesia. He then allegedly lost consciousness.

Shaurya was then shifted to Baby Memorial Hospital in Kannur, where he died at around 9 pm on Friday.

The family accused a doctor, Anjali Poduval, of medical negligence, following which she was charged under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts endangering life or personal safety and carries a maximum punishment of three months' imprisonment.

Hospital Denies Charge

The Baby Memorial Hospital, which has branches in Kozhikode, Kannur, Thodupuzha, Payyanur and Vadakara, denied the allegations of medical negligence.

In a statement, the hospital said the child suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest immediately after the administration of anaesthesia and was promptly placed on ventilator support before being shifted to its Kannur hospital for advanced critical care.

The hospital maintained that complications can occur following anaesthesia despite appropriate dosage and medical care and said that all accepted treatment protocols had been followed.

Every possible effort had been made to save the child's life, it said.