Delhi's Safdarjung hospital has denied allegations of negligence in the case where a baby, who was declared dead, by the hospital was found alive by the family on Sunday.
The news hit headlines when a 28-year-old Delhi-based patient Shanti, who was in her 20th week of gestation, "aborted spontaneously a fetus of 410 gms". A statement issued by the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the hospital confirmed the weight of the fetus that was declared dead after two hours.
"The fetus was observed in the labour room for two hours and it did not show obvious signs of life clinically. It was handed over to the father, " the hospital said. However, the family allegedly found signs of life after the boy wrapped in a polythene was taken home. The baby was brought back to the hospital, and, on Monday, was declared dead.
The hospital clarified that "limb movements after three hours" is a possibility "because abortuses below 22 weeks of gestation often have prolonged periods of cessation of respiration and feeble heart which may lead to difficulty in appreciating clinical signs of life".
According to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, a fetus of 20 weeks is legally not viable, and so there's no lapse on part of the hospital, the statement said.
Incidentally, the hospital is also courting controversy over an alleged mix up of babies, earlier this month. A couple alleged that they were shown a baby girl by the hospital, when in fact, the woman had delivered a boy. Professor Dr A.K. Rai, medical superintendent, Safdarjung hospital, said in a statement that these allegations were "wrong, baseless" and that the lady had indeed delivered a baby girl. A DNA test has confirmed the baby's parentage, said Rai.
