A mother has alleged gross medical negligence and a significant dosage error by nursing staff at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) during the treatment of her 16-month-old son.
Fatema Begum, a resident of Narayanganj, claimed that her son, Abdur Rahim, was administered an incorrect dosage of medicine and denied essential care during his four-day stay at the facility.
The child was initially admitted to a local hospital with cold-related complications. When his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to DMCH. Fatema Begum alleged that despite her son’s worsening state, the hospital failed to provide a proper diagnosis.
“They did not identify any specific illness; they only said it was cold pneumonia,” she said, despite her own observations of fever and swollen eyes suggesting measles.
The most serious allegation involves a medication error. “The child was supposed to be given a 120mg dose, but the nurses administered a 250mg dose. Later, a doctor came and said this would not do,” Fatema claimed.
She further alleged that although the hospital had oxygen available, it was not provided when her son required it, and she complained of verbal ill-treatment by the nursing staff.
The child has since been moved to another hospital after DMCH cited a shortage of beds and ICU facilities. While Fatema noted that her son’s condition has shown slight improvement since the transfer, he continues to suffer from severe breathing difficulties.
“Today he is breathing very heavily. They [the current doctors] have seen him but haven’t said anything definitive yet; they mentioned he might need to be moved to the ICU,” she added.
Fatema, who is managing her son’s treatment alone, expressed that the medical expenses, amounting to several thousand Taka, have placed a heavy financial burden on her.
Attempts were made to contact Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman, Director of Dhaka Medical College, for a response to these allegations, but he remained unavailable for comment at the time of reporting.
Speaking to TIMES, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Deputy Director (Hospitals) Mohammad Ibrahim Titon stated that the department would take action if a formal complaint is lodged.
“If the victim files a complaint with the Director General, we will listen to both the victim and the accused parties before taking necessary measures,” he said.
