DGHS finds no initial negligence in infant’s death

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has initially found no evidence that the death of nine-month-old Ayan Abdullah at Dhaka’s Padma General Hospital was caused by the absence of doctors or negligence by the hospital authorities.

However, DGHS Additional Director General Zahid Raihan said the vandalism of the hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) constituted a criminal offence.

He also said an investigation committee would be formed to examine the incident based on the family’s complaints.

He made the remarks at a briefing with journalists at the hospital around 11:30am on Monday.

Earlier, a two-member DGHS team visited the hospital at around 10am and held discussions with the hospital manager and doctors. DGHS Hospital and Clinic Division Director Dr Nurul Islam and Dhanmondi Assistant Commissioner (Land) Jannatul Ferdous were also present at the briefing.

Dr Zahid Raihan said the child had a complex physical condition and was suffering from several diseases, including food stuck in the food pipe and septicemia at the final stage.

“Initially, we have not found any negligence on the part of the hospital,” he said.
He said the person who livestreamed the incident on social media was not a close relative of the child but a content creator, adding that vandalising the PICU was a criminal offence.

Regarding allegations that no doctors were present, he said two doctors, including Consultant Dr Nazmul Haque, were at the hospital during the incident. However, when the commotion began, they moved to another room for security reasons.

“We are forming a committee to investigate this incident. It will look into everything, including the death of the child, the hospital’s infrastructure, and the collection of excess fees,” he said.

Hospital Medical Officer Dr Nazmul Haque said the child was scheduled to receive a discharge certificate on Monday but suddenly suffered cardiac arrest before that.

“The child suddenly suffered a cardiac arrest. At one stage, he stopped breathing,” he said.
Ayan had been admitted to the hospital for 13 days with various complications. His condition deteriorated after 9pm on Sunday, a day before he was due to receive his discharge certificate, and he died shortly afterwards.

On Sunday night, Asif Hasan went on Facebook Live alleging that the child had appeared normal until the afternoon before his death. He alleged that the child’s body gradually turned blue while being fed in the evening and that the family was later told he needed life support.

He also alleged that hospital authorities did not allow family members to see the child and later declared him dead after his condition deteriorated.

Hospital authorities alleged that agitated relatives destroyed medicines and medical supplies and assaulted some nurses, but did not provide CCTV footage to support the claims.

Hospital Manager Sirajul Islam said doctors were present but took shelter in another room after the person conducting the livestream allegedly threatened to kill them.

More than 15 children are currently admitted to the 100-bed hospital’s PICU, according to the manager.
Relatives of several patients said they came there after failing to secure beds at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital. Some said they were referred by ambulance drivers or doctors.

Dr Zahid Raihan said allegations involving doctor references and brokers would also be given due consideration during the investigation.