Justice continues to elude this family

Ravi Kumar is dead. But it isn’t only his death last December that is haunting his family. The 14-year-old’s right arm had to be amputated last October following what his family claimed medical negligence.

Ravi Kumar is dead. But it isn’t only his death last December that is haunting his family.

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The 14-year-old’s right arm had to be amputated last October following what his family claimed medical negligence.

“My son suffered multiple fractures in his arm after a fall on September 29, 2009. It would have healed had he been treated with care,” said Munni Devi (36), the boy’s mother.

Ravi was taken to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital (SGMH) in Mongolpuri in west Delhi after he fell from a swing. An X-ray revealed multiple fractures in right arm and the doctors plastered his arm.

When his pain did not subside, the family went back on October 2. The family alleged that the doctors did not examine him thoroughly.

They had approached a private practitioner of Unani medicine, who removed the cast and advised that he be taken to the emergency wing at SGMH.

“At SGMH, I was told that they would be operating on his arm but his amputation came as a shock. I was not informed about it,” his mother’s complaint to the government read.

The three-member inquiry committee found the doctors lax in their handling of the patient. They asked for a further inquiry by an independent orthopaedic team.

SGMH Medical Superintendent Dr M.V. Kamath moved the file to the Delhi government asking for another inquiry 15 days ago.

“I have asked the government to constitute another team to look into the case. We will surely punish the guilty,” he said.

But why the two-month delay in informing the government? Dr Kamath had no reply.

“We will immediately set up the orthopaedic committee and the report will be sought in a week's time,” said J.P. Singh, principal secretary (health).