Swine flu victim's family to file FIR against hospitals

Pune: The family of 14-year-old Rida Shaikh, who died of the H1N1 Influenza A virus in Pune on Monday, will file an FIR against Jehangir Hospital and Ruby Hall Clinic.

The FIR will be filed under Indian Penal Code Section 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 304(A) (Causing death by negligence) against Jehangir Hospital and Ruby Hall Clinic.

Rida was being treated at Jehangir Hospital while her throat swab samples were sent to Ruby Hall Clinic for tests. The test showed Rida suffering from pneumonia and her family has alleged that the wrong diagnosis led to crucial delay in her treatment leading to her tragic death.

The family has been claiming that if not for the negligence of the two hospitals, Rida would still be alive.

Rida's family had on Tuesday made its intention clear of filing police complaint and suing the two hospitals while addressing the media on Tuesday

"We are going to sue them for damages. We will claim a lot of money. We are not interested in the money. All the money will be given to charity," family lawyer Asif Lampwala had said.

Lampwala also claimed that there was a nexus between the two private health institutions - Jehangir Hospital and Ruby Clinic - where the tests were carried out.

"There was gross negligence on part of Jehangir Hospital in the case. There is strong nexus going on between two private hospitals - Jehangir and Ruby. When symptoms of H1N1 are there, you have to give samples for testing to a government hospital. Why has Jehangir given it for testing to Ruby? Report comes in one hour which is shocking. We don't understand why the samples were sent to and report comes in an hour while it should take minimum one day. The patient was on the ventilator in Jehangir Hospital for four days and the doctors want her to shift from the ICU to a private room with the ventilator," he said.

Meanwhile, nine more wine flu cases have been reported from Pune taking the total number of cases in the city to 118.

Out of the nine new cases two patients are from Rida's school St Anne's School.

The teenager's death has also led to panic in Pune with many people crowding Naidu Hospital, which is a government designated hospital to treat swine flu, on Wednesday to get tested.

Besides Naidu Hospital, there are two more government hospitals for H1 N1 screening in Pune. They are Aundh Hospital and YCM Hospital.

(With inputs from Jemima Rohekar)