Medical Negligence Alleged: Vision Loss in Two Babies

Medical Negligence: "Our Babies Suffer a Lifetime of Vision Impairment Because of Hospital Negligence"

At a tender age, Baby Adrita and Baby Mivaan are already experiencing a harsh reality most infants are spared. Both babies wear oversized glasses, a stark reminder of their compromised vision, which their parents allege was caused by medical negligence at Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital in Bardhaman in West Bengal. The families of these children, devastated and seeking justice, recount the harrowing experiences that have left their children with impaired vision.

https://theprobe.in/medical-negligence/medical-negligence-alleged-vision-loss-in-two-babies-7374430

Hitesh Choudhary, father of Baby Mivaan, shared the painful details of his son’s birth. “I admitted my wife to Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital around 1:30 am on June 23, 2023, and by morning, she was deemed fit to go home. But repeated delays in her discharge kept us waiting. By evening, the hospital administered an injection that triggered sudden labour, leading to my son Mivaan's birth at 8:07 pm the very same day," Hitesh recounted.

“My baby was born premature. Between 8:07 and 8:47, my baby was alone, without any medical supervision,” Hitesh revealed. “When finally taken to the NICU, Mivaan was declared a high-risk baby and kept under observation for 43 days, with mounting NICU charges.” For Hitesh and his family, those days marked only the beginning of a nightmare that continues as they now contend with their son’s vision impairment, a condition they believe could have been avoided with proper care.

More Cases of Medical Negligence Unfold

During this difficult time, Hitesh encountered another couple, Manoj and Mitali, who were also at the hospital for the birth of their daughter, Baby Adrita. Hitesh, father of Baby Mivaan, recalls a moment when the fellow parent, Manoj Kumar Ghosh, cautioned him about the dangers of neglect at the hospital.

Hitesh recounted how Manoj reached out to him, warning him to insist on an ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) screening for his newborn. "He told me, ‘In my case, the hospital neglected my baby’s ROP treatment; please ensure they don’t do the same to your child.’ When I approached the doctor, he brushed it off, saying I shouldn’t worry,” Hitesh shared. Trusting the hospital’s judgment, Hitesh kept quiet, unaware of the impact these assurances—or lack thereof—would soon have on his son.

Stay informed with The Probe. Get original stories, exclusive insights, and thoughtful, in-depth analysis delivered straight to your phone. Join our WhatsApp channel now! Click the link to join: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaXEzAk90x2otXl7Lo0L

Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening Critical for Premature Babies

Both Mivaan and Adrita were born prematurely, making them high-risk for ROP, a serious condition that can lead to blindness if not detected and treated early. Guidelines recommend that preterm infants undergo ROP screening within four weeks of birth. However, Hitesh alleges that not only did the hospital delay the screening for Mivaan, but upon discharge after a prolonged 43-day stay, they instructed the family to wait another 15 days before seeking an ROP test.

“After those 15 days, Manoj called me again, urging me to get the test done,” Hitesh continued. “So I went to a government hospital, only to learn that my baby had developed an aggressive form of ROP, which was now at a critical stage. The doctor there said my baby will suffer a lifelong vision impairment issue because of non-screening at Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital.”

A Dire Outcome and the Struggle for Treatment

For Hitesh and his wife Karishma, the delayed screening came with irreversible consequences. They soon discovered that Mivaan was losing sight in his left eye and facing rapid deterioration in the right. Desperate for options, they took Mivaan to Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai, where he underwent several laser treatments, injections, and ultimately an eye surgery—one that proved unsuccessful for his left eye.

“Today, my son’s left eye is completely detached, and his right eye requires -10 power glasses,” Hitesh shared in anguish. “This is a lifelong condition; we have to travel for treatment twice a year, which has taken a toll on my business and my family’s peace.”

Hitesh further alleges that when he questioned the doctor at Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital about the lack of ROP screening, the doctor admitted that he had informed the hospital Director of the need for this crucial test, yet no action was taken. “The doctor told me he performed his duties and held the hospital responsible for the medical negligence. I even have an audio recording of this conversation,” Hitesh disclosed.