Ernakulam: A three-year-old boy died on Sunday morning after he had accidentally swallowed a coin on Saturday, reportedly as he had not received any medical help when the child was rushed government hospitals. Kerala health minister, K K Shailaja has ordered an inquiry in this regard.
Prithviraj, son of Nandini and Raju from Kadungalloor, in Ernakulam district, was taken to the Aluva District Hospital by his family immediately on realising that he had swallowed a coin. However, doctors at the hospital allegedly turned him down as the toddler was from a containment zone, alleged his relatives.
Health Minister K K Shailaja, in a media release, termed the incident ‘very unfortunate’. The Minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Health Principal Secretary has been told to inquire and submit the report as soon as possible. Stringent action will be taken if there were any lapses, Shailaja said.
On knowing that the child has swallowed a coin, he was taken to Aluva District Hospital at 11 am on Saturday. The hospital authorities allegedly had told Prithviraj’s mother that he only need to be fed on bananas and rice so that the coin will be expelled from his body naturally. They said, if at all the toddler has any further trouble, he must be taken to another hospital, alleged the toddler’s mother. The coin was found to have been in his small intestine in the X-ray that was taken at the hospital.
Read: 14-year-old boy commits suicide after father fails to buy him smartphone
Later, when the child’s status deteriorated further, he was taken to Ernakulam General Hospital, the authorities at the General hospital denied medical care indicating that the hospital did not have the facility to provide the required treatment. He was then referred to Vandathanam Medical College Hospital. The relatives rushed him to Vandathaanam Hospital. There, the child was examined and said to be stable to return home. After trying to get medical care at three public health care facilities accessible to the family, the child was finally sent home unattended.
By night on Saturday, the child seemed unwell and troubled. He died in the morning on Sunday.
The toddler’s relative alleged that he was denied treatment because he came from a containment zone. The Government authorities are struggling to answer the criticisms from all quarters that there was no concrete effort to save his life at any of the three government hospitals the child was taken to. Aluva District Hosptial authorities said that they referred the child to the General Hospital in the absence of a paediatrician at their facility.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the child died because the Government’s health care systems denied treatment. Demanding action against those who erred and denied treatment resulting in the child’s death, he said, it is the Government’s failure.
