Max Hospital sued for ‘wrong treatment’ again

Within a span of weeks, a second allegation of “death from wrong treatment” has been raised against Max Hospital in Chattogram, with a case filed this time by the aggrieved.

Yusuf Alam Masud, a lawyer at Chattogram court, filed a case with the court of Chattogram Metropolitan Senior Magistrate Sarwar Jahan, alleging that his baby was killed in the womb of his wife, due to “wrong treatment” of doctors at Max Hospital, said Advocate Anwar Hossain, the complainant’s attorney.

The accused are Dr Liakat Ali, managing director of the hospital; Dr Afroza Ferdous, a consultant of gynaecology; and Dr AHM Rakibul Haque, consultant of ultrasonogram at the hospital.

Masud’s wife was expecting and was undergoing treatment under Dr Afroza, who practices at Max Hospital, said Anwar, adding, the doctor set the delivery date for December 17.

As the expecting mother felt pain and thought she was going into labour on December 1, Masud took her to see Dr Afroza, and the doctor suggested an ultrasonogram at the hospital by Dr Rakibul, said Anwar.

Rakibul performed the test and “confirmed” that the movement of the baby was normal.

Dr Afroza, upon seeing the ultrasonogram, also “confirmed” the movement of the baby to be normal, and said the pain was not delivery pain and that the due date would still be December 17, said Anwar. The doctor then prescribed some painkillers to the patient.

The expecting mother was relieved of her pain upon taking the medication, but her abdomen became stiff, said the lawyer, adding that she felt pain on December 3 again, and was rushed to Metropolitan Hospital in the city where she delivered a dead baby.

Anwar also claimed that the doctor who delivered the baby said it was “slightly decomposed”, and the baby died some days ago.

The complainant, in his petition, alleged that his baby died due to wrong treatment by the doctors at Max Hospital and begged the court for justice.

Senior Magistrate Sarwar Jahan ordered Police Bureau of Investigation to investigate into the incident by an officer not less than the rank of assistant superintendent, said Anwar, adding that the court ordered PBI to submit the report after investigation and taking opinion from a neutral gynaecologist on the next hearing date of January 19, 2020.

When asked why the patient was taken to a different hospital on December 3, Masud told this newspaper that the gynaecologist had suggested he could take his wife to any hospital of their convenience, and contact her.

“The baby was delivered within minutes of reaching the hospital; there was no time to contact Dr Afroza,” he said.

Contacted, Dr Sumaya Rafique, who received the couple and performed delivery in Chattogram Metropolitan Hospital, said the woman gave birth to a dead baby within five minutes of coming to the hospital around 1:25pm on December 3.

“By the time she arrived, it was too late,” she said.

The doctor also said she did not tell the baby’s father that the baby had died several days ago.

When contacted on the phone, Dr Afroza denied to comment on the matter, and asked this correspondent to visit her at her chamber.

Contacted, Dr Liakat Ali Khan, managing director of Max Hospital, said, “The ultrasonogram was performed by Dr Rakibul, who is one of the leading sonologists of the country. Dr Afroza is a very experienced gynaecologist who never stood second in her academic career.”

This newspaper has obtained a copy of the ultrasonogram -- with a delivery date of December 2 -- in which the condition of the fetus is seen to be normal.

MAX HOSPITAL REFUTES ALLEGATIONS

Meanwhile, Max Hospital authorities in a press conference yesterday claimed that the hospital was not liable for the death of the baby, as the delivery took place in another hospital without supervision of Dr Afroza.

In reply to a question, Liakat said patients die in most hospitals in the port city almost every day, but any trifling incident at Max Hospital is made big and highlighted. A motivated quarter might be involved behind the scene, he claimed.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

On November 21, parents of a one-year-old alleged that their baby died in Max Hospital soon after an antibiotic injection had been administered.

Banker couple Shameem Sarwar and Mohsena Jharna alleged of “wrong treatment” behind the death, and filed a complaint with Chattogram Civil Surgeon in this connection on December 1.

Contacted, Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Mohammad Rabbi said he forwarded the application to Dr Hasan Shahriar Kabir, director (Chattogram division) of Directorate General of Health Services, for further steps.

Mentionable, three-year-old Rafida Khan Raifa died at Max Hospital during treatment on June 2 last year. A government investigation led by the Chattogram civil surgeon found negligence of doctors in treating her.