‘We begged for a test dose’

Srinagar, Aug 8: A two-year-old girl from Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district died hours after being administered a potent antibiotic without a sensitivity test and then transported in an unstaffed ambulance with a faulty oxygen supply at the Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, her family alleged.

Pareeza Shakeel, the only daughter of Malik Shakeel and his wife, passed away at 1:40 am on August 4 at the Pediatric Hospital of Government Medical College (GMC) Bemina in Srinagar.

According to her family, she was suffering from a gastrointestinal infection and was treated for the same by the local doctor. But medics ruled it out, saying it was an intussusception. Intussusception is a serious condition where one part of the intestine slights into another, like a telescope collapsing. This can block the passage of fluids and food, cut off blood supply, and potentially lead to tissue damage or tearing. It is most common in young children, but can occur in adults due to underlying conditions, like tumors.

However the deceased toddler girl was administered ceftriaxone, a third-generation antibiotic known to trigger allergic reactions if given without a prior test dose.

“She turned pale, collapsed within seconds and gasped for breath,” her uncle, Malik Basharat, said. “The doctor on duty looked at her and said, ‘An evil omen has struck her; that’s why she has fallen sick.’ We were stunned. Earlier, we had begged for a test dose, but a paramedic mocked us, saying, ‘Do you know medicine better than us?’”

The child had reportedly been ill for four days and was initially being treated by a local doctor in Kokernag.

“We got an ultrasound done at a private diagnostic centre, and it showed a severe intestinal infection,” Basharat said. “As her condition worsened, the local doctor advised us to rush her to GMC Anantnag. We left Kokernag at 5 pm and reached GMC Anantnag Janglatmandi around 6 pm on August 3 (Sunday).”

After getting a ticket from the hospital counter, the doctor on duty in the general casualty section- likely a junior resident or an MBBS medical officer - told the family to take the patient to the surgical casualty of the Department of Surgery, Basharat said. "There, another junior resident examined the toddler and referred her to a senior resident, but she collapsed." Doctors from the pediatric section then took her to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for resuscitation, but her condition did not improve.

She was referred to the Children’s Hospital in Bemina, an associated facility of GMC Srinagar, more than 50 kilometers away.

The family claims the ambulance, which was not equipped for critical care, had no doctor or paramedic on board.

“There was only the driver. On the way, the oxygen pipe slipped out. We stopped for 30 minutes near Pampore along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway as she gasped for breath, while the driver fixed the pipe,” Basharat said.

Pareeza reached the Children's Hospital, Bemina, GMC Srinagar, around 10:43 pm, but succumbed despite hours of resuscitation efforts by doctors there.

“Life and death are in Allah's hands, but while the medic and paramedic staff present at GMC Anantnag's pediatric section failed us, their counterparts at the Children's Hospital in GMC Srinagar tried to save her,” said the deceased toddler's uncle said.

“Not every doctor is casual about their duties. Some work with dedication and honesty. The staff in Anantnag were very casual, but those in Srinagar were responsible and did everything possible to save our child."

Her death certificate at the Children's Hospital Bemina, GMC Srinagar, cited anaphylactic shock, cardiopulmonary arrest, respiratory failure, and pulmonary bleeding.

An inquiry has been ordered into the tragic death of the lone child of parents who have been married for over three years now.

“The GMC Anantnag hospital has formed a committee of senior doctors to investigate whether the negligence lies with medical or paramedical staff,” Medical Superintendent of GMC Anantnag Dr Arshad Hassan said.

However, an official said, “A preliminary report has reportedly been submitted to the Principal of the GMC Anantnag for further follow-up and action.”

At her home in Adihal-Vailoo village, about 40 km from Anantnag town, her parents are shattered.

“Pareeza was born after 15 months of our marriage. She died in my lap. I carried her coffin myself,” Shakeel said in tears. “We got her after heartfelt prayers. And she was taken away like this.”

Outside their modest home at Adihal Vailoo village in Kokernag, a tiny grave is all that remains of the child who was the couple’s world.

Her mother is in shock and hasn’t uttered a word since she lost her only girl child.