Newborn in ICU after ‘incorrect jab’

A newborn at CSCR Hospital in Chattogram was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit after a nurse allegedly administered the mother's injection to the baby, according to the family.

The baby was born on Friday. The mother and newborn were preparing to leave the hospital the following afternoon when the nurse entered their cabin to give an injection. The mother reportedly warned that the medicine was intended for her, but the nurse allegedly injected the baby anyway.

“

My wife told her, ‘This injection is for me, why are you giving it to my baby?’ But the nurse shouted back, saying, ‘Am I doing your duty, or are you doing mine?’

“My wife told her, ‘This injection is for me, why are you giving it to my baby?’ But the nurse shouted back, saying, ‘Am I doing your duty, or are you doing mine?’” said the baby's father, Md Hasan. He said the infant's condition deteriorated shortly afterward and alleged that the nurse had joined the hospital only two months earlier.

Police went to the hospital after a 999 emergency call. Sub-Inspector Kamruzzaman of Panchlaish Police Station said hospital authorities and doctors initially admitted that the baby had received the wrong drug.

“

The baby was crying at the time and has since been breastfed. As per the consulting physicians’ advice, the newborn is currently being kept under observation.

Hospital managing director Morshedul Karim Chowdhury acknowledged the negligence and said two consultants had been called to assess the infant. “The baby was crying at the time and has since been breastfed. As per the consulting physicians’ advice, the newborn is currently being kept under observation,” he said.

The hospital said it was testing the baby's blood every 12 hours. It also said the nurse would face departmental action and be reported to the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council. Hasan argued that punishing only the nurse would not be enough, saying hospital authorities should also accept responsibility.

“

If she was inexperienced, why was she assigned such critical responsibilities? Punishing only the nurse is not enough; the hospital authorities must take the blame.