Child Died in Arms After Drowning Accident as Couldn't Get Ventilator for 9 Hours

From Sonipat's Civil Hospital to PGI Rohtak, doctors failed to provide a ventilator to save 1-year-old Prashita who had drowned in water. For over 9 hours, her mother held the child in her arms, pleading with doctors, until the baby finally succumbed.

This story of Haryana's healthcare system begins in Raypur village, Sonipat, where a family from Chhatarpur, MP, living on rent, lost their child on May 31 when she fell into a bathtub. Around 12 PM, the family first rushed to Sonipat Civil Hospital. Mother Noni and father Pawan said their daughter was still breathing when brought in.

Hospital Negligence at Sonipat Civil Hospital

They kept asking to admit their daughter, but doctors wouldn't listen. No ventilator was available, and they were referred to PGI Rohtak. They reached PGI Rohtak at 2 PM, where doctors said they needed recommendation from a senior doctor to get a ventilator. The child lay on a stretcher in wet clothes until 9 PM when doctors declared her dead.

The Drowning Incident

 Mason Pawan was living with his wife Noni, 3-year-old daughter Sonam, 1-year-old daughter Prashita, and his parents in a rented house in Raypur village, Sonipat. On May 31 at 11:30 AM, elder daughter Sonam was bathing in a tub in the courtyard. Prashita went to play with her and fell into the tub when she leaned inside, becoming unconscious from drowning.

Father Pawan explained that during the incident, he and his wife were upstairs, thinking the children were with their grandparents downstairs. As soon as they learned about the drowning, they immediately brought her to Sonipat hospital at 12:30 PM with help from landlord Surendra Gautam.

Medical Apathy and Discrimination

When they reached Sonipat Civil Hospital, doctors were sitting in their cabins laughing. Pawan pleaded to save his child, but no one listened. Mother Noni said nobody heard her pleas. She went to doctors multiple times, but they remained indifferent. After much insistence, they said no ventilator facility was available and referred the child to PGI Rohtak after an hour, wasting precious time.

At PGI Rohtak, the child was placed on a stretcher for an hour in wet clothes without any doctor examining her. Noni questioned why another child brought later was immediately taken to ICU while her daughter wasn't, highlighting the discrimination between rich and poor. When she broke down crying, a doctor said a ventilator and ICU admission required recommendation from a senior doctor.

The Referral Chain and Bureaucratic Delays

Social worker Devendra tried to help by contacting Dr. Dhruv, who directed them to Dr. Kundan Mittal, HOD of Child Department. Dr. Mittal questioned why Dr. Dhruv wasn't providing the ventilator if he had access. After requesting reports and brief consultation with treating Dr. Lakhan about the child's deteriorating condition, a stretcher was finally ordered. However, staff didn't respond immediately. An hour later, they were informed the child had died, though she was breathing until 8:40 PM.

Hospital's Defense

Sonipat Civil Hospital CMO Dr. Jyotsna explained they have 4-6 adult ventilators on paper, but all are for adults. Their ICU isn't fully functional due to staff shortage. No pediatric ventilator facility exists for one-year-old children, which is why referral was made, though the public lacks this information.

The CMO stated they lack PICU (Pediatric ICU) facilities. While adult and newborn ventilator facilities exist, PICU is needed for children over one year. She claimed doctors always try to save patients, and when accidents happen, blame is often misplaced, suggesting parents were also at fault for the drowning.

PGI's Statement

PGI Director Dr. Singhal claimed the child arrived brain dead and was being resuscitated with pumping systems. Her heartbeat was intermittent despite continuous monitoring. When a ventilator became available and preparations were made, the child's heartbeat stopped permanently. After extensive efforts failed to restore heartbeat, she was declared dead. He denied any negligence from doctors.

Family's Allegations

The family from Ota Purva village, Chhatarpur district, MP, living in rented accommodation in Raypur, Sonipat, holds PGI administration responsible for Prashita's death. Mother Noni emphasized that irresponsible staff behavior and lack of treatment facilities, not the accident, caused her daughter's death. She demanded action against PGI administration.

The family's poverty prevented private hospital treatment, making them dependent on public healthcare. Despite doctors saying the child could be saved with a ventilator, none was provided for nine hours until death occurred.