Bardhaman Medical Negligence: "ROP Screening Could Have Saved My Child"

Father Alleges Missed ROP Screening Could Have Saved Child in Bardhaman

In this episode of Unbreak The News with Prema Sridevi, we revisit the case of alleged medical negligence at Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital in Bardhaman, West Bengal. A father claims that missed ROP screening in a Level 3 NICU led to permanent vision loss in his child. With similar allegations in another child’s case, serious questions are being raised about hospital protocols, accountability, and systemic lapses. Here are the transcripts from the interview:

Prema Sridevi: Today on Unbreak the News, we revisit the case of two premature babies from Bardhaman in West Bengal whose parents allege that the failure to conduct ROP screenings at Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital in West Bengal led to loss of eyesight of their children.

The matter is currently being heard before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Bardhaman and the West Bengal Medical Council. In the latest development, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the hospital’s Medical Administrator to personally appear before the commission along with the registration documents of the nurses working in the hospital.

In the earlier hearing, the hospital did not produce the registration details of the nurses…. Hitesh Choudhury is joining me today — he is the father of Mivaan.

Hitesh ji, before we get into the legal details, for the benefit of viewers—please tell us what happened with your son Mivaan and give us the background of this case.

Also Read: Medical Negligence Alleged: Vision Loss in Two Babies

Hitesh Choudhary: A criminal and terrible medical negligence happened with my child. Even after being admitted to a Level 3 NICU, no ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) screening was conducted.

In a Level 3 NICU, it is mandatory that any premature baby undergoes ROP screening within 4 weeks of birth. However, even after my son turned 43 days old, no ROP screening was done—even after we repeatedly requested it.

In the discharge summary, we were told that ROP screening has to be done 15 days after discharge.

That means we were advised to do the screening after 58 days.

Because of this delay, aggressive ROP developed in his eyes, and it progressed to Stage 5.

We ultimately got surgery done on his left eye, but the retina got detached. Unfortunately, he is not able to see from his left eye now.

Prema Sridevi: This happened not only with you but also with Manoj ji’s daughter Adrita, who faced a similar issue. Can you tell us more about that case?

Hitesh Choudhary: This very same incident had already happened with Manoj ji’s daughter earlier. He guided me and told me that this had happened with his child, and I should inform the concerned doctor so that the same problem does not happen with my child.

Even after repeatedly informing the doctor, the doctor told me that my child’s case is different and their case is different.

He told me not to get into this and said that my child does not have any such problem.

Prema Sridevi: How important is ROP screening? Is it mandatory? If the hospital had done it on time, could this have been prevented?

Also Read: Bardhaman Medical Negligence: WBMC Seeks Report | The Probe Impact

Hitesh Choudhary: ROP screening is extremely important—it is like a polio vaccine.

If a child has ROP and it is detected early, then injections are given in the eyes, and a minor laser procedure is done. Because of this, vision can be preserved, and the retina does not completely detach.

But the key is that it must be detected as early as possible.

Prema Sridevi: The Consumer Commission had asked the hospital to appear with nurse registration details, but they failed to provide them earlier. Now the medical administrator has been asked to appear personally. How difficult is it for a hospital to provide such documents? Why do you think they are delaying it?

Hitesh Choudhary: Madam, actually, they do not have these documents at all. None of the nurses working there are registered with the West Bengal Nursing Council.

They do not have any such details. They are just taking dates in court again and again.

For the last two or three hearings, they have not submitted the nurse registration certificates.

This time, the court has rejected their request for more time and has ordered their administrator to appear.

Also Read: Bardhaman Medical Negligence: Doctors Summoned by Medical Council

Prema Sridevi: From the time your wife was admitted to this hospital in Bardhaman, till discharge and even afterwards—what negligence do you think took place? Can you explain point by point?

Hitesh Choudhury: First of all, my wife’s delivery was not supposed to happen there. It was a forced delivery.

She delivered our child on 24 June 2023.

She was given injections and the delivery was conducted forcefully.

After that, my son was kept in the NICU for 43 days.

No proper treatment was given. He was given high doses of antibiotics without doing blood culture and without doing a brain scan.

Whatever is mandatory in the case of a premature baby—none of it was done.

He was given high doses of antibiotics and drugs.

There is also something called surfactant, which must be given within 24 hours of birth for premature babies because it is very important—but that was also not given within 24 hours.

Prema Sridevi: According to rules, when should ROP screening be done? In your case, it was not done—did the hospital ever inform you about it, or did you ask them?

Hitesh Choudhary: The hospital never informed me about ROP at all.

I came to know about it from Manoj Kumar Ghosh. He told me that something called ROP exists and his child had suffered from it.

He advised me to immediately tell the doctor so that my child does not face the same issue.

After that, I told the doctor about it but he did not take any action.

He told me to focus on my child and said that there is no such problem.

He said that if there is any problem, he will take care of it and I should not worry.

Also Read: Bardhaman Commission Orders Hospital to Produce Nurses’ Records

Prema Sridevi: We have been continuously reporting on both Mivaan and Adrita’s cases for the last two years.

Recently, we reported another case where, in a hospital in Delhi, more than 100 nurses were not registered—they did not have the required registration under the Delhi Nursing Council.

This is the case of Uttam Chand Meena, in which his wife, Gargi Meena, died at Saroj Hospital in Delhi. The Delhi High Court had also raised serious concerns over this matter.

What do you think—do you see the same pattern being repeated in your case as well?

Where a hospital is not even able to submit basic details like nurse registrations—does this indicate that the problem is not limited to just one hospital, but is systemic?

Hitesh Choudhary: Madam, this problem is already happening across the country.

In this hospital, it is questionable whether the nurses are even qualified or not.

This is a basic KYC requirement—just like Aadhaar or PAN, hospitals must have nursing council registration certificates. It is mandatory.

Without it, they cannot hire nurses.

But in a Level 3 NICU, they have hired nurses who are not even registered. It feels like they have just placed untrained helpers in place of nurses.

Prema Sridevi: What is the update from the West Bengal Medical Council?

Hitesh Choudhary: I am in regular touch with the West Bengal Medical Council and following up continuously.

I had emailed them also asking for the status of the hearing.

They told me over the phone that a chargesheet has been filed against the doctor.

However, the registered copy has not yet been issued, so they have not been able to send it by post.

Once I receive it, I will share it.

Prema Sridevi: How is Mivaan today? What difficulties is he facing? How has life changed for both children?

Hitesh Choudhary: Sometimes, while walking, he suddenly bumps into walls. He cannot see clearly.

He has minus 11 power in his right eye.

He has to wear thick glasses all the time.

Every day is a challenge.

Prema Sridevi: How many surgeries has Mivaan undergone?

Hitesh Choudhary: Initially, when ROP was detected, he received injections in both eyes.

After that, repeated laser surgeries were done in both eyes.

Eventually, a major surgery was done in the left eye, which lasted around 4 to 5 hours.

Prema Sridevi: What is Adrita’s condition now?

Hitesh Choudhary: Her surgery was successful. She has vision but with some power.

But in Mivaan’s case, the retina remained detached and could not be restored. His surgery was not successful.

Prema Sridevi: What are your main demands in this case? Do you want compensation or are you demanding action against the hospital and its doctors?

Hitesh Choudhary: I want the hospital to be shut down.

The doctor should be suspended, and his medical license should be cancelled.

He is not fit to treat any child.

The hospital hires such doctors because they are cheap and lack proper qualifications.

At that time, the doctor treating my child was actually a government bond posting doctor.

He was not even eligible to act as the main doctor, but he treated my child as if he were one—which is not possible as per rules.

Prema Sridevi: Earlier, you mentioned there was pressure for out-of-court settlement. Is that still happening?

Hitesh Chodhary: No. Right now, I am not in contact with any outsiders regarding this matter.

I do not want any settlement.

I only want justice for my child—nothing else.

Prema Sridevi: On a personal level, how difficult has this fight for justice been for you and your family?

Hitesh Choudhary: Since this incident happened, my life has completely changed—180 degrees—you can say that.

My entire routine and everything in life is almost finished.

But I will not step back until I get justice.

I will keep fighting.

I want to ensure that what happened to my child does not happen to any other child because of this hospital or any other hospital.

Author:   Prema Sridevi

Bardhaman medical negligence case: Father alleges missed ROP screening led to child’s vision loss and says timely care could have saved his child.

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Medical Negligence Bardhaman West Bengal Hospital