Health Minister U.T. Khader sets up fresh panel to review treatment of infant who suffered brain damage at private hospital

The 14-month-old boy was taken to Cloudnine Hospital on July 26 for emergency surgical repair of a full-thickness ear laceration. | Image for representation only

Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader has constituted a fresh expert committee comprising doctors from NIMHANS, the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) and the State Health Department to review the treatment of an infant who suffered severe brain damage following an ear surgery at Cloudnine Hospital, Nagarabhavi, in July.

The committee will examine the infant’s condition and recommend further treatment to maximise his chances of recovery. The hospital has also been asked to rope in specialists and experts, including doctors from outside Karnataka, if required.

The move follows a meeting between the infant’s family and Mr. Khader on Thursday (November 5), when they sought justice and demanded that the hospital take responsibility for the infant’s treatment.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Khader said the government wanted the infant to recover and return home in good health, but the immediate priority was to ensure that he received the best possible medical care.

“We have asked the hospital to rope in specialists and experts to provide the best treatment to the boy. I have also set up another committee that will examine the case and recommend what best can be done and further interventions to ensure the infant recovers,” he said.

The 14-month-old boy, son of Sampath Kumar K.P. of Kattedoddi village in Mandya district, was taken to Cloudnine Hospital on July 26 for emergency surgical repair of a full-thickness ear laceration. During the procedure, he suffered a cardiac arrest in the operation theatre, resulting in severe brain injury due to oxygen deprivation.

An expert panel, set up by the Health Department, comprising an anaesthesiologist and a paediatrician from the State-run Sir C.V. Raman General Hospital, identified critical lapses in the administration of anaesthesia. Its report noted that while the operation theatre was adequately equipped, the attending anaesthesiologist was not sufficiently trained to administer anaesthesia to small children.

The panel found that an attempt to intubate the infant led to hypoxia, bradycardia and cardiac arrest. While hospital records indicated that the cardiac arrest was reversed within seven minutes, the panel said brain hypoxia had persisted for 15 to 20 minutes, causing severe, irreversible damage. An MRI scan conducted three days later confirmed partial prolonged hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury.

The Bengaluru Urban District Health Officer and the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Grievance Redressal Authority had reviewed the expert panel’s findings and the parents’ submissions at a hearing on October 8.

Noting that the findings indicated prima facie medical negligence, the District Health Officer referred the case records to the president of the Karnataka Medical Council (KMC) on October 12 for inquiry and disciplinary action.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has criticised the hospital management for failing to take responsibility for the infant’s condition. He demanded that Cloudnine provide treatment free of cost or that the State government assume responsibility for the expenses.

“The hospital management’s indifference is unacceptable. Resolve the issue immediately, or I will have to come to the hospital myself,” he had warned.

He had also urged the Health Department to monitor private hospitals and take action in cases of alleged medical negligence.