Special probe into infant’s death after hospital refuses admission

Colombo, July 06 (Daily Mirror) -  The Health Ministry has launched a special inquiry into the incident where a two-month-old baby, who was suffering after choking on milk, was refused treatment at the new hospital in Kamburugamuwa, Matara District, resulting in her death.

The probe has been initiated under the directive of Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala.

Furthermore, a hospital level investigation is also underway.

The tragic event occurred on July 3, when the infant was denied entry to the Kamburugamuwa hospital’s emergency room.   

The baby developed complications after being fed milk and was rushed to the Matara District’s new hospital by her parents. 

However, hospital security personnel informed them that the emergency room was not operational and refused to accept the patient. 

Despite the parents' pleas to use an ambulance or take their child inside, their requests were denied. 

The parents then took the infant to the Matara General Hospital, about 10 kilometres away, where doctors declared the baby dead, stating that she could have been saved if brought 30 minutes earlier.