J&K Health and ME department seeks report on toddler’s death after alleged injection lapse at GMC Anantnag

Srinagar, Aug 9: The Health and Medical Education Department on Saturday sought a detailed report within days from the Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, over the death of a two-year-old girl from Kokernag, who allegedly suffered a fatal reaction after being given an antibiotic without a test dose.

Officials said the college’s internal inquiry committee, headed by Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Arshad Hassan, has recorded statements from doctors and nurses in the surgical casualty and main Surgery Department who treated the child on August 4 before she was shifted to the Children’s Hospital, Bemina.

“However, the attendants of the patient have not yet appeared before the committee,” the MS said.

The panel, which included two faculty members from the surgery and paediatrics departments and two nurses from the casualty unit, found contradictions in nursing staff statements about whether a test dose was administered before ceftriaxone, a third-generation antibiotic known to cause severe allergic reactions. The patient’s file recorded After Test Dose (ATD), but the family disputes the claim.

An official source said the report points to negligence by two nurses, though it concluded that treatment by the doctor on duty, a first-year postgraduate in surgery pursuing DNB from the same college, was appropriate.

“The family is right about negligence on the part of paramedics… but the truth lies somewhere in between,” the official said.

According to the committee’s findings, the girl collapsed within seconds of the injection.

“She collapsed within seconds of the injection,” said her uncle, Malik Basharat.

He said that the doctor on duty allegedly told the family that an evil omen had struck her.

“That’s why she has gone sick,” Basharat quoted the doctor as saying.

He also alleged that earlier requests for a test dose had been dismissed.

“We begged for a test dose, but a paramedic mocked us, saying, ‘Do you know medicine better than us?’” Basharat said.

The child was moved to the pediatric intensive care unit, where two senior paediatricians tried for 45 minutes to revive her, administering adrenaline, Avil, and fluids.

With her condition critical and the family pressing for immediate transfer, she was referred to the Children’s Hospital in Bemina, more than 50 km away.

A critical-care ambulance would have taken 45 minutes to arrive, so staff arranged a regular ambulance from the Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Sherbagh, with only the driver onboard.

On the way, the oxygen pipe slipped out, forcing the driver to stop near Pampore as the child struggled to breathe.

She arrived at Bemina at 10:43 pm, where doctors found her in shock, cyanosed, with cold extremities and a low Glasgow Coma Scale.

Efforts including adrenaline, hydrocortisone, Avil, and vasopressors failed, and she died later that night.

Her death certificate listed anaphylactic shock, cardiopulmonary arrest, respiratory failure, and pulmonary bleeding.

Top health officials have taken cognisance of the incident, and a preliminary report has already been sent to the GMC principal for submission to higher authorities.

The girl, from Adihal Vailoo village in Kokernag, had been ill for four days and was treated by a local doctor.

When her condition worsened, the family drove 36 km to GMC Anantnag on the evening of August 3.

After registering at the surgical casualty, she was examined and given the injection that her relatives allege caused her death.