Family to sue private hospitals, authorities deny charges

Pune/Mumbai, Aug 4 (PTI) The family of a 14-year-old school
girl--the first fatal victim of Swineflu in India-- on Tuesday
said it would sue two private hospitals in Pune for alleged
gross medical negligence, as questions were raised on late
diagnosis that may have led to her death.

The death of Rida Shaikh, a Class Nine Pune student who
succumbed to the deadly infleunza virus on Monday, set off
initiatives to check the spread of flu including invoking the
stringent Epidemic Control Act in Maharashtra to enable the
government to forcibly put swine flu patients under quarantine
in its hospitals.

As the distraught family of Rida came to grips with the
tragedy, fingers were pointed at the Jehangir hospital-- where
the girl died--and at Ruby hospital whose tests of her throat
swabs were first tested negative for swine flu.

After chairing a high-level review meeting in New Delhi,
Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad blamed late diagnosis for the
girl's death. " The patient was tested late", he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan blamed
"negligence" on the part of Jahangir hospital, as his
government issued show-cause notices to both Jehangir and Ruby
hospitals.

"We would initiate civil and criminal law proceedings(for
gross negligence) against these two private hospitals which
had a nexus between them," Asif Lampwala, the lawyer
representing the girl's family told reporters in Pune.

The victim's aunt Ayesha Majid Shaikh claimed the family
was not kept informed about her suffering from swine flu and
that they trusted the doctors. She was also reported to have
been initially diagnosed with pneumonia.

Rejecting charges of medical negligence, Jehangir
hospital claimed there was no lapse on its part and it did
their best to save the girl's life while Ruby hospital said it
was not at fault and cannot be blamed for the death of the
girl. PTI TEAM
SDE
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