12-yr-old girl partially paralyzed, relatives blame docs - NAINITAL

Born with a slightly abnormal spine, 12-year-old Rani Upreti had no problem cycling or attending to her daily needs all by herself like any normal child. However, all this changed when she was operated upon in a private hospital in Dehradun under the NHRM scheme and School Health Programme in June last year.


The operation to get the abnormality (Dorsal Kyphosis) fixed failed miserably as Rani lost her ability to move her body parts from waist down, allegedly due to negligence of doctors involved. Now, permanently confined to the bed, she has developed grade four bed sores.

Acting on a complaint in the matter, the Uttarakhand Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the chief medical officers of Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar districts and medical superintendent of Himalyan Hospital, Deharadun, on June 2 and asked them to submit reply within six weeks regarding alleged negligence of the medical staff of the private hospital in Dehradun.

The family of the child has been struggling with poverty, anguish and deteriorating condition of their kid. Govind Upreti (38), her father who works as a daily wage labourer said, "I have spent more than Rs 4 lakh on her treatment till date. The doctors of the Himalayan Hospital promised treatment with good results and they destroyed my daughter's life. What do I do? Where do I go?"

Unable to hold back his tears at his daughter's condition, Govind said before the operation, despite her slight abnormality, Rani used to cycle to a nearby government school. "She was an active child who was independent and fun-loving," said the father.

A complaint in this regard was submitted to the Uttarakhand Human Rights Commission on May 26 this year by RTI activist Gurvinder Singh Chaddha. "The condition of the child is an unbearable sight. All I want is justice to be delivered to her. She is suffering because of the ignorance and negligence of the hospital staff," Chaddha alleged.

Taking cognizance of the complaint, the human rights commission wrote in its letter, "Notice be issued to Udham Singh Nagar CMO as well as Dehradun CMO and Medical Superintendent Himalayan Hospital, Dehradun to send the reports within six weeks."

Rani was admitted to the Max Hospital in Dehradun in January this year where her condition was diagnosed as post-operation 'absence of sensation' in her both lower limbs. However, now she is at her home in Rudrapur.

The Himalayan Hospital administration was not available for comment despite repeated attempts. 

Source:  TOI, 10th June 2015