Kerala toddler dies after anaesthesia for minor lip injury, doctor booked

An 18-month-old boy died at a private hospital in Kerala's Kannur five days after he allegedly developed serious complications following the administration of anaesthesia for treatment of a minor lip injury.

The child, identified as Devansh Shouria, had been undergoing treatment at Baby Memorial Hospital in Kannur after his condition deteriorated during a procedure at the hospital's Payyannur branch. He was the only child of T. Suraj and Vijisha, residents of Mathamangalam in Eramam-Kuttoor grama panchayat, and was born after eight years of their marriage.

According to family members, the toddler suffered a cut on his lip after falling while playing outside his home on July 5. He was taken to Baby Memorial Hospital in Payyannur, where doctors decided to stitch the wound under anaesthesia.

Soon after the anaesthesia was administered, the child's health reportedly worsened, and he never regained consciousness. He was later shifted to the hospital's Kannur unit for advanced treatment, where he passed away at around 9 p.m. on Friday.

Following allegations of medical negligence by the family, the Payyannur Police registered a case against the anaesthetist, Dr. Anjali Poduval, based on a complaint lodged by the child's relative, K. Rajeevan. The case has been filed under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts endangering human life or personal safety and carries a maximum punishment of three months' imprisonment. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Baby Memorial Hospital has denied the allegations of negligence. In a statement issued earlier, the hospital said the child suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest immediately after receiving anaesthesia. It stated that doctors immediately initiated emergency treatment, placed the child on ventilator support, and shifted him to the Kannur facility for specialised critical care.

The hospital maintained that all standard medical protocols were followed and said that, although rare, complications can occur even when anaesthesia is administered appropriately. It added that every possible effort was made to save the child's life.

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by Education Post)