QUETTA: A newborn allegedly went missing from Quetta Civil Hospital after the birth of twins, with the family accusing hospital staff of failing to provide information about the second baby, sources said on Tuesday.
According to the family, Nageena Begum was admitted to the hospital’s gynaecology ward at around 11pm on Sunday and underwent a C-section. The family said she was carrying twins, but hospital staff handed over only one newborn after the operation.
The family claimed that hospital records also showed the pregnancy with two babies. However, they said they were told after the delivery that only one baby had been born. “We were informed through ultrasound reports that there were two babies. The hospital report also mentioned twins, and a private hospital had independently confirmed the presence of two babies,” said Shehzad Ali, the woman’s brother-in-law and a resident of Arbab Town on Sariab Road.
He alleged that the family was handed only one baby following the operation and was told that there had been only one newborn.
Shehzad said doctors at Civil Hospital had not provided any information about the whereabouts of the second baby.
The family also produced an obstetrical ultrasound report showing a twin pregnancy at approximately 34 weeks and six days of gestation, with positive fetal heartbeats for both fetuses. The report also mentioned an anterior placenta and adequate liquor.
Shehzad appealed to the authorities to investigate the matter and take action against anyone found responsible.
Meanwhile, Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul Hadi Kakar said an inquiry committee had been formed to investigate the incident.
He said the family would be informed about the findings of the investigation soon.
The incident comes days after a family in Karachi alleged that their newborn had gone missing from a private hospital in the Nazimabad area after a woman underwent an operation for delivery.
However, an investigation into that case later found that the woman had falsely claimed to be pregnant. –Agencies
