Probe after infant dies due to hospital refusal

• Her life could have been saved had she been brought in 30 minutes earlier  

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

A probe has been initiated over the incident where a two-month-old baby suffering after choking on milk was refused treatment at the Matara District New Hospital in Kamburugamuwa resulting in her death.  The tragic event occurred on July 3, when the infant was being taken to the Matara General Hospital after being denied entry to the Kamburugamuwa hospital’s emergency room.   

The infant had been fed milk early that morning and soon developed complications. Subsequently, her parents rushed her to the Matara District New Hospital in a three-wheeler.   
According to the parents, the hospital security personnel informed them that the emergency room was not operational and they could not accept the patient.   

 The distraught parents pleaded to be allowed to take their child inside or to use an ambulance to transport her to another facility. However, their requests were reportedly denied.   
Then the parents transported the infant to the Matara General Hospital, located approximately 10 kilometres away.   

By the time they arrived, doctors at Matara General Hospital declared the baby dead, stating that her life could have been saved had she been brought in just 30 minutes earlier.   

However, speaking to Daily Mirror, a senior health official said a hospital level investigation has been launched into the incident.