HYDERABAD: The doctors are trying to cover it up, alleged Dharawath Bikshapathy, father of six-year-old Sai Pravalika who was administered an insect infected saline solution on Dec 14. The girl was admitted to Gandhi Hospital in the city, as she was battling a life threatening neurodegenerative disorder. But after the contaminated saline was administered, her health worsened, alleged the father.
“There have been many cases of medical negligence in the recent past in the state forcing Telangana State Medical council to take action against several doctors this year alone. However, we can’t take any action as no complaint has been filed against any doctor. The matter is outside our jurisdiction,” said Ravinder Reddy, chairman of TSMC.
“We have filed an FIR with the Chilkalguda police station that fungus in the saline bottle has worsened her condition,” said Dharawath. “The doctors said that she will not survive for more than half-an-hour on the day she was given the saline IV,” he added.
However, the SHO of Chilkalguda police station, K Srinivasulu said, “No FIR has been filed on this matter with our police station.”
The superintendent of Gandhi hospital J Venketeshwar Reddy admitted there was an insect in the saline bottle. “We have sent the IV bottles to Telangana State Drugs Control administration for testing. We have also taken her blood sample and will have it sent for blood culture testing with our labs,” he said.
Pravalika is battling Neuronal Ceroid Lipfuscinosis from the age of three and was admitted to the hospital on December 7.
“Her condition is still critical. It has spread into her nervous system and also affected her heart,” said her father.
“We cannot afford the legal process and we need help from people. We have to take care of her treatment and right now there is no cash anywhere in the country,” he added. Dharawath is a taxi driver and has appealed to the public for support.
“I have no trust left on these doctors. How can I trust them when they, instead of saving my child, have almost killed her. I would like to shift her to another hospital,” said Dharawath.
Meanwhile, Errapalli Dayakar, MLA, had assured help to his family.
“The MLA said he will help, so I am hoping that we will be able to save her,” he added.