Devansh Death: Postmortem Finds No Need for Anaesthesia, Doctors Under Investigation

Payyanur: A crucial postmortem report has revealed that there was no medical necessity to administer anaesthesia to 18-month-old Devansh, who died while undergoing treatment at Baby Memorial Hospital in Payyannur. The report states that the child had only a minor injury to the lip, which did not require surgery.

According to the findings, the child had a superficial lip wound measuring 0.6 × 0.2 × 0.2 cm. The injury was expected to heal naturally within three days and did not even require stitches. The report concludes that administering anaesthesia and performing a surgical procedure for such a minor wound amounted to a serious lapse.

The report further states that blood flow to the child's brain stopped within ten minutes of the administration of anaesthesia. The lack of adequate oxygen supply to the brain resulted in the child's death.

Police have registered a case against anaesthesiologist Dr. Anjali Pothuval. Paediatrician Dr. Asha Nirmal and plastic surgeon Dr. Aarathi are also under investigation.

The doctors have been summoned for questioning, but their mobile phones are currently switched off. As part of the ongoing investigation, the Payyannur Deputy Superintendent of Police has directed the Kannur District Medical Officer (DMO) to constitute a medical board to examine the case further.

The child sustained the injury while playing at home on July 5. After initially receiving treatment at the Primary Health Centre in Mathamangalam, the child was admitted to Baby Memorial Hospital in Payyannur. He became unconscious shortly after being administered anaesthesia for the procedure and was later shifted to a hospital in Kannur, where he died on July 10.

A team led by the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights had earlier visited the child's home and recorded statements from the parents. The Commission observed that there appeared to have been serious negligence on the part of the hospital. Based on the family's complaint, there are growing demands for stringent action against all the doctors found responsible in the case.