Baby found dead with alleged rat bites in Chennai hospital, two doctors among nine suspended

Chennai: Two doctors and seven workers of the Government Kasturba Hospital in Chennai have been suspended for negligence. The face of a prematurely born baby who died on Sunday night was found disfigured on Monday when it was handed over. The parents had alleged that it was due to rat bite.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa who chaired a high-level meeting today said in a statement that "an enquiry has clearly revealed that the baby's face got disfigured only after she died". She added that "the hospital should have handed over the body to the parents immediately when there was no need for a post-mortem. But the wrapped body was left in the hospital overnight" and that an investigation is on to find out how the baby's body got disfigured".

Meanwhile, the state government has decided to take measures to improve conditions in government hospitals in Tamil Nadu. Irula tribals who are known for their skills to catch snakes and rats would be employed in hospitals to keep them free from rodents. Visitors would not be allowed to consume food in hospital premises and mobile outlets selling food would be banned in hospitals. Visitors can meet patients only during designated hours. Bodies of patients who die ought to be handed over to families immediately if they don't require post-mortem. And bodies have to be kept only in mortuary.

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