Two oxygen-dependent infants made to use single cylinder at MGM Hospital Warangal; superintendent sacked

In a case highlighting lapses in patient care at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital in Warangal, two oxygen-dependent infants were connected to a single oxygen cylinder while being taken for X-rays on Saturday, October 25. The incident has prompted action from the State government, with Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha ordering the removal of hospital Superintendent Dr Kishore from the post.

According to the hospital authorities, the lapse occurred after the X-ray machine in the paediatric department malfunctioned on Friday evening. “We informed the service team immediately and raised a request. The issue was resolved by around 1.30 p.m. today,” hospital RMO Dr Ashwin told The Hindu.

During the period of repair, the hospital relied on a mobile X-ray unit in the paediatric emergency section. “Since the machine was still down this morning, the children had to be taken to the main X-ray room. There were 12 children in total, of whom two were oxygen-dependent,” he explained.

The RMO said a patient care worker made a ‘wrong judgment call’ in trying to hasten the process. “He thought that by connecting both oxygen pipes to a single cylinder, he could move the two children together and complete the X-rays faster. Of course, it was a mistake,” he said. He added that after the X-rays of the two infants were completed, confusion followed as parents of other children, who were not on oxygen support, decided to leave. “The patient care worker gave them permission to go instead of asking them to wait, which was another lapse,” he said.

Both children involved are boys, aged one-and-a-half months and three-and-a-half months, from different families. “They are too young to be moved in a wheelchair, so someone has to carry them,” the RMO noted.

Taking note of this lapse, the Health Minister instructed the Health Secretary to take steps to solve the situation. The Minister also asked the Director of Medical Education (DME) to review MGM Hospital every week and submit a detailed report to him.