By IANS,
Pune: Refuting charges of criminal negligence, the authorities of a private hospital here said Tuesday they were “ready for any inquiry” into the death of a 14-year-old girl who succumbed to influenza A(H1N1) virus.
“We refute all allegations and are ready for any inquiry. We will cooperate in all investigations to prove that we are innocent,” Medical Superintendent of the Jehangir Hospital Prasad Muglikar told reporters.
“We did enough to save the girl. We have all documentary evidences and we intimated about the patient to deputy director district health services, Pune and Pune Municipal Corporation on August 1,” he said.
Rida Shaikh, a student, was first taken to a general physician after she showed flu like symptoms and was later admitted to the Jehangir Hospital where she died due to swine flu Monday. She is the country’s first swine flu death.
But angry and emotional family members of the girl threatened to sue the hospital for criminal negligence.
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also said the treatment came “too late” to save the girl, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan squarely blamed the hospital for Rida’s death.
Chavan said the government would take action against the hospital for the “lapses” that led to the girl’s death.
The Maharashtra authorities also began probing the probable lapses on the part of the private hospital, where the girl was admitted July 27, and also issued notice to Ruby Clinic where the girl’s blood tests were conducted.