A Newborn's Tragic Death Exposes Alleged Medical Extortion in Uttar Pradesh

A Newborn's Tragic Death Exposes Alleged Medical Extortion in Uttar Pradesh

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Aug 23 : In a gut-wrenching turn of events, a man in Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh, brought the body of his deceased newborn to the District Magistrate's office, accusing a private hospital of gross negligence and financial exploitation. The man, Vipin Gupta, claims his child died after doctors at the hospital refused to perform a C-section on his wife, demanding escalating fees instead of providing timely care. As alleged hospital asked Rs 10,000 for normal delivery and Rs 12,000 for C-section.

According to Gupta, the hospital initially quoted fees for a normal and a C-section delivery. However, as his wife's labor progressed, the staff allegedly increased their demands for money. Gupta stated he managed to arrange funds, but the hospital continued to raise the price, refusing to begin the delivery process until more money was paid upfront. He recounted a desperate plea to transfer his wife to another facility if they couldn't proceed, but the staff reportedly insisted on payment first. After the child's death, Gupta alleges his wife was "thrown out" onto the street, leaving him to carry his dead baby in a bag.

Acting swiftly on the distressing complaint, the District Magistrate ordered an immediate investigation. The hospital in question, Goldar Hospital, has been sealed and all its patients have been transferred to the District Women's Hospital. The District Magistrate's office posted on X (formerly Twitter) confirming the action and stating that the administration stands with the affected family.

The Chief Medical Officer, Santosh Gupta, visited the sealed hospital to gather information and probe the allegations of mismanagement. The CMO confirmed that the victim had provided details of the incident, and the investigation is underway following the DM's instructions.

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