A day after the deaths of five newborn babies, another male baby was born dead on Monday at Ludhiana Civil Hospital. Taking immediate action for yesterday’s deaths at the civil hospital, Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani suspended gynaecologist Dr Alka Mittal and transferred Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Raj Kumar Karkara. But the health minister had a difficult time reaching the civil hospital as he was gheraoed by AAP outside his house while the Congress had staged a dharna at the civil hospital. Paediatrician Dr Yogesh Khanna and four staff nurses on duty have been spared for the time being. Interestingly, sources revealed that Dr Khanna did not reach the hospital in time and the staff nurses did not make a phone call to the gynaecologist on duty despite the cases being of a serious nature. Asked about the suspension order, Dr Alka Mittal said, "I am clear from my point of view. The nurses were in touch with me over phone, but told me that the cases were complicated. I was on call duty for the past 48 hours. it is not possible for a doctor to be present in hospital round the clock." Dr Mittal had been chargesheeted nearly 10 days ago for not being available in hospital on her OPD day. It was alleged that she owned a private clinic, but the doctor claims it is owned by her husband. A preliminary investigation has discovered that out of the five babies, three were intra-uterine deaths (IUD) and medical negligence was cited in the case of the other two.
