Karnataka hospital under fire after newborn gender mix-up sparks outrage, DNA test ordered

According to the sources, Gauri, 24, gave birth prematurely at seven months on September 25. From the moment of the delivery, the hospital staff consistently referred to the newborn as a girl.

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Edited By: Sonia Dham
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Newborn child (Representative Image) (pickpic)

In a heart-wrenching incident that has surfaced from Karnataka’s Koppal at Mother and Child Hospital, parents of a prematurely born baby were left devastated when hospital authorities handed over the body of a deceased newborn boy, despite having been informed earlier that they had given birth to a girl.

The couple, Gauri and Kanakappa, are now seeking legal action, vowing to file a police complaint against the hospital. Meanwhile, hospital officials have assured the couple that a DNA test will be conducted to resolve the confusion.

What is the case all about?

According to the sources, Gauri, 24, gave birth prematurely at seven months on September 25. From the moment of the delivery, the hospital staff consistently referred to the newborn as a girl. Even official documentation provided by the hospital identified the child as female. However, Gauri expressed concerns that she was never properly shown the baby's face, as the infant was immediately moved to the neonatal care unit due to low birth weight.

The situation took a devastating turn when Gauri and Kanakappa were handed the body of a deceased boy, leaving them shocked and distraught. They immediately requested access to the girl they had been initially told was their baby, but the hospital staff's responses were evasive, adding to their distress.

Hospital's response and investigation

According to The Times of India, Dr Venugopal, the district hospital's director-in-charge, addressed the issue, stating, "The birth registration record shows the baby was a boy. However, the confusion arose due to the K-sheet, which listed the newborn as a girl. A DNA test will be conducted as per the parents' request."

To investigate the matter, an expert committee led by district surgeon Dr Krishna Omkar has been formed. The committee is tasked with questioning the medical staff on duty at the time of the delivery and is expected to submit its findings within two days.

The hospital has faced previous controversies regarding similar incidents involving the deaths of newborn girls and allegations of baby switching. Past inquiries into these matters have been criticized for their lack of impartiality, as committee members were often from the same hospital under investigation.