Scans and X-rays revealed a needle-like foreign object, believed to be similar to the type used in syringes for drawing blood. (Photo for representation)
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Even as a three-member committee constituted by the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kottayam, has completed its inquiry into an alleged case of medical negligence involving a newborn, the State government has ordered a separate probe into the incident.
According to sources, Women and Child Development Minister Bindhu Krishna intervened in the matter and directed the department to conduct an inquiry. The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also registered a case. Acting chairperson Cicily Joseph took suo motu cognisance of the matter, and the commission has decided to seek reports from the Kottayam District Police Superintendent and the superintendent of the Kottayam MCH.
Meanwhile, hospital sources said the three-member committee headed by medical college deputy superintendent Frederic Paul had completed its inquiry.
Confirming the development, Tigy Thomas Jacob, superintendent of the Kottayam MCH said he had received a complaint about the incident around three to four weeks ago and had entrusted a team of doctors with the inquiry. “The report is yet to be received. Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry,” he said.
The case pertains to a complaint that a needle was left lodged in the body of a newborn at the hospital shortly after her birth. The foreign object was detected and surgically removed only after the child turned one.
According to the parents, the child had experienced pain and discomfort for nearly a year before the object was detected during an examination at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, around two months ago.
The child’s mother, Anjumol, delivered a baby girl at the Kottayam MCH, on June 24, 2025. The baby was shifted to the neonatal intensive care unit a day later after developing health complications.
The following day, when hospital staff called the mother to feed the baby, she allegedly noticed a reddish patch below the child’s right chest. When she brought it to the attention of doctors, a scan was conducted the next day. However, the mother alleged that the scan was of the baby’s head and back and did not cover the area where the reddish patch had appeared. When she questioned the doctors, they manually examined the affected area and reportedly told her that the problem would become clearer as the child grew.
After seven days in hospital, the mother and child were discharged. They initially stayed at their home in Ettumanur before moving to the child’s father’s house in Kozhikode. The parents said the child continued to cry frequently and appeared to be in discomfort, but they initially assumed it was part of the normal difficulties experienced by infants.
According to them, the patch below the child’s chest later became more prominent. The parents took the child to the Kozhikode MCH.
Scans and X-rays conducted there allegedly revealed a needle-like foreign object, believed to be similar to the type used in syringes for drawing blood. The object was subsequently removed through surgery on July 10, 2026.
Following the surgery, the parents sent a complaint by email to the Gandhinagar police station and later approached the Kottayam Medical College authorities, who initiated an inquiry into the incident.The parents are now awaiting the outcome of the various inquiries before deciding on further legal action.
Published – September 05, 2026 05:42 pm IST
