Reeda`s family files criminal complaint against pvt hospitals

Pune, Aug 6 (PTI) A written complaint seeking criminal
prosecution of directors of two private hospitals-- Jehangir
and Ruby Hall-- was filed Thursday with police by the family
of Reeda Shaikh, the first fatality of swine flu in India.

The complaint, which alleges medical negligence on part
of the hospitals, has also named one Dr Sanjay Agarwal, a
panel doctor in Jehangir hospital where 14-year-old Reeda
succumbed to the deadly infection on August 3.

"Police will investigate the matter and register an FIR
against the accused," Asif Lampwala, lawyer representing
Reeda's aunt Ayesha Shaikh, told reporters here.

"We will also filed separate cases in consumer court
for compensation and apology. We have basically said death by
negligence is the main issue," he alleged.

The lawyer claimed that joint director, health,
government of Maharashtra too had filed a complaint against
the two private hospitals for alleged medical negligence that
led to the death of Reeda, a class nine student of St Anne's
school here.

Lampwala, who was accompanied by Ayesha Shaikh, filed
the complaint at Bund garden police station under which
jurisdiction the two hospitals fall.

The deceased girl's family had alleged that Reeda's
blood samples were sent by Jehangir Hospital to Ruby Hall
clinic for H1N1 testing when it should have referred it to
designated National Institute of Virology (NIV).

Ruby clinic sent test result as negative for the virus
within an hour employing rapid testing methods which resulted
in delay in proper treatment giving proper treatment to the
girl, the family claimed.

The samples subsequently tested positive for H1N1
infection at the second test carried out at NIV.

The lawyer said the complaint had also named Dr Sanjay
Agarwal under whose supervision Reeda was treated for
pneumonia following a "wrong diagnosis" at Jehangir hospital.

Both Jehangir and Ruby hall clinic have denied the
allegations made by Reeda's family.

Jehangir hospital had contended that the girl had shown
'non-specific' symptoms at the time of admission on July 27
and when H1N1 infection was confirmed at NIV on July 31, the
hospital had alerted health authorities putting the patient on
the prescribed anti-viral Tamiflu tablet.

A spokesman of Ruby Hall clinic refuted the charge that
it came out with wrong test result that led to the girl's
death.

Dr Pervez Grant, medical director of the hospital said
the rapid test that came negative was done when the disease
was possibly at a primary stage.

"We had tagged the report recommending further
confirmatory testing for H1N1 at NIV," he said, adding the
hospital could not be blamed for a false test report. PTI