Srinagar, Nov 13 : A heartbreaking case of alleged medical negligence has come to light in Srinagar after an infant, Ahmed, died at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura early Saturday morning, following what the parents describe as hours of neglect and inaction by the attending medical staff.
According to the baby’s mother, Sumaira Sumi, the ordeal began on Friday, October 17, when her son fell ill with vomiting, flu, and a fever of 101°F. “We tried to find a paediatrician early in the morning, but most were available only after 5 pm. At Noorani Hospital, we were told that Dr. Tanveer Bashir was available from 11 am to 4 pm,” Sumi said.
She claimed that after confirming twice with the hospital staff about the doctor’s availability, the family reached Noorani Hospital around noon. However, the doctor was not present. “We waited for more than an hour. The staff kept saying he was in the ER, but when he arrived around 2:45 pm, he came from outside the hospital. He didn’t check my son physically — not even basic vitals except for weight,” she alleged.
Later that night, as Ahmed’s condition worsened, the family rushed him to the SKIMS Soura Emergency Department. “At ER, one doctor, identified as Dr. Tahir, was on duty. The nurse was missing. When she came after nearly 15 minutes, she pricked my baby multiple times to take blood samples,” Sumi said, adding that both the doctor and nurse allegedly went to sleep after administering IV fluids.
The parents further alleged that when they noticed their son’s lips turning blue, the doctor dismissed their concern, saying the child was “cold due to the DNS.” “We checked his oxygen saturation level on the available monitor — it showed 64. The doctor said the machine wasn’t working properly,” Sumi recounted.
According to the family, despite repeated pleas, no one examined the child until his condition became critical. “Only when I raised my voice did the senior doctor intervene, but by then it was too late. They rushed Ahmed to the NICU, where doctors said oxygen was not reaching his brain. Within 20 minutes, he was declared dead,” she said.
The incident, which occurred between 3 am and 10:15 am on October 18, has left the family devastated. “We took our baby out of the NICU in silence. Till today, no official from SKIMS or the Doctors’ Association has reached out to us. We are still waiting for justice,” Sumi said.
The family has urged authorities, including the Health and Medical Education Department, to conduct an impartial inquiry and take strict action against those responsible.
As of now, SKIMS authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the allegations.
