An 11-year-old boy died after undergoing surgery at Abbas Specialized Hospital in Savar on Wednesday, prompting his relatives to vandalize the facility.
The child, Abraham, was undergoing surgery for nasal polyps and tonsil problems at the hospital in Ulail, Savar municipality, when the incident occurred. His family alleged that medical negligence led to his death.
Abraham was the son of Abdul Alim, an expatriate worker from the Singair area of Manikganj.
Following the incident, the accused physician, Dr Md Sumon Hossain, and other doctors, nurses and officials left the hospital. They could not be reached for comment. The mobile phone of hospital owner Dr Md Abbas Uddin was also found switched off.
Abraham’s mother, Kona Akter, said her son had been suffering from nasal polyps and tonsil problems. She took him to Dr Sumon at Abbas Specialized Hospital a few days ago, when the physician advised surgery and prescribed an electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (echo) as preoperative tests.
She said an ECG was performed at the hospital on Tuesday, but the echo could not be done because the doctor was unavailable. When she told Dr Sumon that she would have the echo done elsewhere, he reportedly said the ECG results were satisfactory and the echo was unnecessary.
Following the doctor’s advice, Kona took her son to the hospital at around 11:30am on Wednesday, and he was taken to the operating theatre.
About an hour and a half later, doctors and nurses began rushing around outside the operating theatre and informed her that her son had developed complications and needed intensive care, she said.
On their advice, she took him to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar at around 2pm, where doctors declared him dead.
“My son died because of wrong treatment. I want justice for what happened,” Kona said, alleging medical negligence.
Dr Abdul Ahad, a medical officer at the intensive care unit of Enam Medical College Hospital, confirmed the child’s death.
“When the child was brought to us, there were no signs of a heartbeat or other signs of life. After examining him and confirming his death, we informed his family,” he said.
Asked about the possible cause of death, Dr Ahad said he had heard that the child’s condition deteriorated after he was administered anaesthesia at the other hospital.
A visit to Abbas Specialized Hospital after the incident found several patients still admitted, but no doctors or nurses were present, leaving those receiving treatment in a difficult situation.
One patient, Sirajul Islam, said he had been unable to find any doctor or nurse since the vandalism in the afternoon.
“I have also undergone surgery. I do not know what to do in this situation,” he said.
A security guard stationed outside the hospital, who declined to be named, said the doctors, nurses and other staff had left after the incident. Most patients had also departed, with only two or three remaining, he added.
Attempts to contact hospital owner Dr Abbas Uddin and Dr Sumon for comment were unsuccessful, as both of their mobile phones were switched off.
Savar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Fazle Bari said he had learned that a child had died in the hospital’s operating theatre.
“However, no one has filed a complaint with us. We will take action if a complaint is lodged,” he said.
Savar Model police station Sub-Inspector Fazr Ali said police found no incision marks on the child’s body during the inquest. However, there were signs of bleeding from his nose and mouth.
He said police had heard that the child died after being administered anaesthetic medication. The child’s relatives subsequently vandalized the hospital, he added.