Staff Reporter,sep1: Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) faces a fresh wave of controversy as a family from Goalpara district accuses the hospital of swapping their newborn baby. The serious allegation, emerging just weeks after another infant-related incident at GMCH, has raised significant concerns about the hospital’s neonatal care protocols and overall credibility.
According to the family, Priyanka Sarkar from Dhupdhara, Goalpara, was initially admitted to Boko Hospital, where doctors recommended a cesarean delivery and referred her to GMCH. However, on Friday night, Priyanka gave birth to a baby boy through normal delivery. The newborn was shown to the mother post-delivery, appearing healthy, before being shifted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for further care. The family claims they were not allowed to see the baby for an extended period. When they inquired, hospital staff assured them the infant was in good health.
Shockingly, on Saturday morning, the hospital informed the family that the baby had passed away. Devastated, the family refused to accept the explanation, questioning how a healthy newborn could die suddenly. Priyanka Sarkar, speaking to the media, asserted, “My child is alive. I saw him right after birth, and he was healthy. The baby they showed us as deceased is not mine. My son had six fingers on one hand, a distinct feature, but the deceased infant has no such trait. Moreover, my baby weighed 3.3 kg at birth, while the body we were given weighs only 2.2 kg. This clearly indicates our child was swapped.”
In response, GMCH Superintendent Devajit Choudhury addressed the allegations, stating, “Priyanka was admitted around 8 PM on Friday, and she delivered at approximately 4:30 AM. Unfortunately, the infant passed away in the morning. Initially, the family accepted the body without raising concerns, but they later made these claims. We categorically deny any baby swapping incident at GMCH, and we will thoroughly investigate the matter.”
The allegations have ignited public outrage, further eroding trust in GMCH, especially following recent reports of infant deaths due to alleged negligence. The family has demanded a transparent investigation and strict action against those responsible, calling for police or higher authority intervention to uncover the truth.
This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced transparency, stricter safety protocols, and accountability in Assam’s premier medical institution to prevent such distressing events in the future.
