In an another case of ‘negligence’ by a hospital in Delhi, premature twins were allegedly declared dead by Max Hospital, and were handed in a polythene bag to their parents, who later realised that one of them was alive while on way their to a crematorium to perform the last rites.

The Delhi government has ordered a probe into the incident. Cabinet Minister in the government of Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyender Jain wrote on Twitter, saying that he has directed the “department to conduct a inquiry into this unacceptable act”.

Sought a report on shocking criminal negligence byMaxHospitalShalimar Bagh & directed Dept to conduct a inquiry into this unacceptable act

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— Satyendar Jain (@SatyendarJain) December 1, 2017

The twins were born on Thursday morning to a woman at Max Hospital in Shalimar Bagh. She was brought to the hospital from a nursing home in Paschim Vihar.

Family file police complaint against hospital 

The family approached the police and lodged a complaint against the hospital

“Yesterday, we received a call at Shalimar Bagh Police Station. The callers said one Varsha, wife of Ashish, was referred to the Max Hospital from a nursing home in Paschim Vihar on account of possibility of premature delivery. She was admitted there on 28 November. The doctors had told the family that she was serious and the chances of survival of the twins were slim, as she was six months pregnant,” police said.

Varsha had given birth to a boy and a girl. The family was later informed by the hospital that the twins were stillborn and handed over to the family, they said.

‘Negligence’ by Max Hospital

The family was handed the babies in a polythene bag and they were on way to perform their last rites, when the father felt the boy move inside the bag.

“We tore the packet, there were 2-3 clothes and polythene bags. The kid was still breathing. We rushed the baby to a nearby nursing home in Pitampura,” the father said.

Clarification by hospital

The Max Hospital in a statement on Friday said, “It has been brought to our attention that a premature (22 weeks), newborn baby who is reported to be on life support at a nursing home was unfortunately handed over without any sign of life by Max Hospital Shalimar Bagh.”

“This baby was one of the twins delivered on 30 November morning. The other baby was stillborn. We are shaken and concerned at this rare incident,” it said.

The statement said a detailed enquiry was initiated, pending which, the concerned doctor was asked to proceed on leave immediately and they were in constant touch with the parents and are providing all the needed support.

(With agency inputs)