Rats nibbled on dead baby girl in Indian hospital

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday suspended two doctors and seven other health workers for negligence on their part over an infant's death, whose face was allegedly nibbled by rats. Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa admitted lapse on part of the hospital authorities and asked the health department to initiate action against the culprits.

Reacting to the incident, Jayalalithaa said the infant's body should have been handed over to the family immediately. The hospital did not keep the body of the baby safely in the morgue, she said. The state government has also issued a set of guidelines, including shooing away stray animals and rodents from hospital premises, following the incident.

The chief minister has asked to put additional staff to maintain cleanliness in hospitals and prevent animals from entering its buildings. The state government has asked to appoint rat catchers for the hospitals. It has prohibited eating on hospital premises except in the canteens. The hospitals have been asked to allow visitors only during the visiting hours.

An 11-day-old premature baby girl had died of alleged negligence after battling for life in the incubator at Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children in Chennai on Sunday. Her parents noticed grievous injuries on the face when the baby's body was handed over to them. They had alleged that the body was mauled by rats. The doctors had however claimed that the baby had developed septicemia soon after the premature birth. They had said that the baby's skin had peeled out due to septicemia.