Infant 'gets mother's medication' at Ctg hospital, lands in NICU
Baby taken to NICU after the incident; hospital suspends nurse and launches investigation.
A nurse at a private hospital in Chattogram allegedly administered a newborn an injection prescribed for the baby's mother, after which the infant's condition reportedly deteriorated and the child was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The incident took place at the Center for Specialized Care and Research (CSCR) on 5 September, shortly after 34-year-old Shakila Yasmin gave birth.
According to the baby's family, Shakila had been prescribed Rhophylac 300 (Human anti-D [Rh] immunoglobulin) after doctors found that her blood group was A negative while the newborn's was A positive.
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The baby's father, Mohammad Hasan, bought the injection from outside the hospital and handed it to the nurse on duty, the family said.
The family alleged that nurse Shafia Akter then administered the injection to the newborn instead of Shakila, despite being told that the medicine was prescribed for the mother.
Chowdhury Mohammad Rifat, a close relative of the baby who said he witnessed the incident, told The Business Standard that Shakila had specifically informed the nurse that the injection was for her.
The family said the baby's body became cold and the child's skin colour began to change shortly after the injection.
On the advice of paediatrician Dr Muhammad Javed Bin Amin Chowdhury, the newborn was subsequently taken to the NICU, according to the family.
The baby's condition later improved and the child was moved from the NICU to a cabin, the family said.
The family also claimed that a hospital doctor acknowledged the incident as a "medical error".
Baby's father Hasan said the hospital's investigation should examine more than the role of the nurse.
"Putting the blame only on the nurse will keep the real issue hidden. The investigation should also examine whether the doctors on duty and the hospital authorities had adequate oversight before the injection was administered," he said.
He also demanded that the hospital take responsibility if the child develops any physical complications in the future.
Dr Mohammad Salahuddin, chief operating officer of CSCR, said the nurse allegedly involved in the incident had been suspended and an investigation had been launched.
"We have suspended the nurse concerned and are investigating the incident. Such an incident is in no way acceptable. Further action will be taken after receiving the investigation report," he told The Business Standard.
The hospital also plans to form a medical board comprising specialist doctors from Chattogram Medical College to assess the baby and determine further treatment, he said.
"We have kept the child under observation. The doctors will review the test reports," Salahuddin said.
He said the newborn was currently stable, feeding, crying and having bowel movements.
The hospital would provide necessary tests and treatment based on the consultants' advice, he added.
Mohammad Mozammel Haque, officer-in-charge of Panchlaish Model Police Station, told The Business Standard that police sent a team to the hospital after receiving information about the incident.
No written complaint had been filed with the police, he said.
"If the baby gets better after 12 hours of observation, that is good. Otherwise, legal action will be taken if the affected party later approaches us with a complaint," he said.
However, the OC said police had yet to independently confirm whether the baby had been admitted to the NICU or determine the child's current condition.
Police were continuing to gather information about the incident, he added.
