Ad-din to face legal action if show-cause reply not satisfactory: Health minister
Action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation, regardless of any demands made by the victims' families, he says.
Highlights:
- Ad-din will face "highest possible action" if its show-cause reply is unsatisfactory
- Hospital asked to respond by tomorrow afternoon
- DGHS seeks an explanation for why the hospital's licence should not be cancelled
- Ad-din says two staff were suspended over the incident
- Probe found negligence behind the deaths of six newborn
- A criminal case has been filed over the deaths
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has warned that legal action will be taken against Ad-din Medical College Hospital if its response to a show-cause notice over the deaths of six newborns is found unsatisfactory.
"In the interest of the public and the protection of human life, punishment will be ensured in accordance with the law. The hospital authorities have been asked to respond by tomorrow afternoon," he said while speaking at a press conference at his residence on Minto Road in the capital today (6 June).
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If the response is not satisfactory, the highest possible action under the law will be taken, he added.
The minister said the hospital had been asked to explain why its licence should not be cancelled following the incident.
Sakhawat also mentioned that a criminal case has already been filed over the deaths of the six newborns and that action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation, regardless of any demands made by the victims' families.
Referring to a press conference held by the hospital authorities earlier in the day, he said, "They claimed today that what we have done is not legally valid. But we have taken every step in accordance with the law."
Earlier today, Ad-din Medical College Hospital's legal counsel Mohammad Shishir Manir said the notice is "unlawful" and the hospital would submit a written response by 5pm tomorrow while also seeking additional time and an opportunity for an oral hearing.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued the show-cause notice following the deaths of six newborns at the hospital's Moghbazar branch on 27 May, asking the hospital authorities to explain why its licence should not be cancelled under the provisions of the Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance.
The notice directed the hospital's owner, Dr Sheikh Mohiuddin, to submit a response by 4pm on 7 June.
Speaking at a press conference, jointly organised by the hospital authorities and affected families at the Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre in Tejgaon, Shishir Manir also described the deaths of six newborns as the result of "unexpected negligence" and announced the suspension of two staff members following an internal investigation.
He said a five-member internal investigation committee found that a nurse and another staff member had demonstrated a "lack of professionalism" and had subsequently been suspended.
Meanwhile, Ad-din authorities suspended two more employees over a separate incident involving journalists following the deaths of the newborns.
According to a press release issued by the hospital today, the incident occurred on 30 May after the health minister and senior officials visited the hospital. Following the minister's departure, a large number of journalists attempted to enter the hospital premises.
They tried to restrict entry in consideration of patients receiving treatment.
During an exchange between journalists and hospital staff, a journalist referred to cleaning workers as "sweepers", which the employees perceived as insulting. The situation subsequently became tense, and the staff asked the journalists to leave the hospital premises.
Ad-din expressed regret over the incident on the same day and launched an investigation. Following the inquiry, two employees were found responsible and were suspended.
The hospital did not disclose their identities, citing concerns for their social dignity.
On 4 June, the health minister disclosed findings from an investigation committee, saying evidence of negligence by the hospital authorities had been found.
According to the committee, the primary factors behind the deaths included a malfunctioning air-conditioning system, oxygen shortages and severe overcrowding in a small ward.
The investigation also found that oxygen levels in the affected ward had dropped while carbon dioxide levels had increased, creating a highly dangerous environment for newborns.
Hospital authorities had initially described the incident as an accident, saying 11 mothers and six newborns were in the ward at the time.
Officials said the babies became critically ill and were rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where two were declared dead on arrival and four others later died while on ventilator support.
