Family alleges infant's eyelid bitten by ants at hospital
JODHPUR: A few days after a sweeper snipped the finger of an infant at a hospital in Barmer, in another case of negligence a seven-month old's eyelid was reportedly bitten by ants at the Umaid Hospital on Thursday.
The hospital administration has denied the charge but has announced an inquiry into the complaint by the attendants of the infant.
Superintendent of Umaid Hospital Narendra Chhangani said the infant, a girl, was a pre-mature delivery and admitted to the hospital on Wednesday. The child was under weight.
"We had put her on oxygen when she was brought here and shifted her to a ward after her condition improved significantly", Chhangani said.
The hospital administration has denied the charge but has announced an inquiry into the complaint by the attendants of the infant.
Superintendent of Umaid Hospital Narendra Chhangani said the infant, a girl, was a pre-mature delivery and admitted to the hospital on Wednesday. The child was under weight.
"We had put her on oxygen when she was brought here and shifted her to a ward after her condition improved significantly", Chhangani said.
While she was under observation, her family was around her throughout and therefore, ant bites on the baby's eyelid could not have gone unnoticed, said Chhangani.
"It is an apprehension of the family members, who complained that after they had meal on the bed; the leftovers could have attracted the ants. They have not seen the ants biting her eyelid," the hospital superintendent said.
The infant's father Mohan claimed that he saw ants on her bed and there could a strong possibility of the ants biting her. He further alleged that when the family saw the marks on the baby' eye they called for medical help but got no response.
Chhangani however said that a case of negligence, if true, will be proved by the inquiry report.
He added that infants at times hurt themselves with their nails, which could have happened in this case too. Also, she could have had a mark on her eye before she was brought to the hospital.
Principal of S N Medical College and controller of Umaid Hospital, Arvind Mathur said the allegations appear to be just apprehension.
"However, we have constituted a committee of doctors to find out the truth. The report will be submitted in two days," Mathur added.
Meanwhile, incidents of rodent nibbling at infants and other patients have been reported at hospitals in the district. The medical college has taken several steps like pest control to prevent such instances at hospitals.
Courtesy: The Times of India
