The police have beefed up security at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) after local MLA Vinay Kulkarni allegedly slapped a paediatrician, Dr Devraj Raichur, over the death of a six-year -old girl.
However, a fresh controversy has erupted after the parents of a still born girl on Monday accused the hospital of negligence.
Kulkarni’s altercation with Dr Raichur was based on the allegation that Megha Hadimani (6) had died due to the negligence of the doctors.
The newborn child died at around 11 am on Monday, just as director KIMS Dr Vasanta Kamat, in a press conference, mentioned that the hospital is under-staffed, and medical personnel need to be hired so that untoward incidents can be prevented.
The child’s father, Rajashekhargouda Patil said, “There were three duty doctors on Sunday night. At around 1 am, they asked me to buy an injection, which I did. Later on, I realised that they had not administered the injection. My wife delivered the baby at around 11 am on Monday, but the baby was stillborn.”
The doctors at KIMS were at a protest against the media for portraying them in bad light, when the newborn died on Sunday.
A KIMS official said: “Though there was a protest on Monday morning, there is absolutely no question of doctors leaving the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and in this case, the neo-natal ICU, as constant medical attention is imperative in these areas. We refute the allegations of the parents.”
Security beefed up
Additional staff is being deputed to the police outpost at the KIMS in Hubli after local member of the Legislative Assembly Vinay Kulkarni allegedly slapped paediatrician Dr Devraj Raichur over the death of a six-year-old girl.
Hubli-Dharwad police commissioner B A Padmanayan said: “Doctors have sought protection which will be provided besides strengthening the policing within the KIMS campus.”
KIMS director Dr Vasanta Kamat said the altercation with Kulkarni was unfortunate and such incidents should be prevented in the future.
“There is no pressure from any quarters. Since the MLA had extended an unconditional apology and regretted the incident, the doctors have decided to end the matter here,” she said.
Dr Raichur has not pressed charges against Kulkarni.
Dr Kamat also rebutted the charges of negligence.