12-year-old boy bitten by stray dies after 20 days in Maharashtra, kin blame hospital negligence

BHIWANDI: A 12-year-old boy from Bhiwandi died last Friday, three weeks after being mauled by a stray dog while playing outside his house on Jan 10. His relatives blamed inadequate treatment facilities at the govt-run Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital in Bhiwandi and for making them shuttle between hospitals, but the facility's authorities said all necessary care was provided on time. The hospital said he had received three anti-rabies vaccine doses and was scheduled to get the final one on Jan 28 but his condition worsened the day prior.

Health officials said an autopsy report on the cause of death was awaited. IGM Hospital's superintendent Dr Madhavi Pandhare said the death could have been due to rabies spreading to the brain or because of low immunity.


The child, Hamid Khan, had sustained deep wounds to the face and near the ribs in the dog attack and was rushed to IGM Hospital. Doctors administered the first anti-rabies shot and considering the severity of his injuries, referred him to Thane Civil Hospital for a surgeon's opinion. At the Thane hospital, doctors advised the family to admit Hamid. The family said they couldn't afford to travel 16km daily from their Bhiwandi home and brought him back to IGM Hospital. He was given anti-rabies jabs there on Jan 13 and Jan 17.

But on Jan 27, Hamid's condition worsened and he developed respiratory issues. Doctors at IGM Hospital again referred him to Thane Civil Hospital, citing the need for advanced care. From Thane, he was shifted to govt-run Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokli after doctors said he required ICU treatment. Hamid died during treatment at Kasturba Hospital.

Accusing IGM Hospital of negligence, the family alleged it had effectively become only "a referral centre". Dr Pandhare said all necessary treatment, including tetanus toxoid injections, anti-rabies vaccine, anti-rabies serum and antibiotics, was given, and the child was referred to the Thane hospital only for surgical opinion. She said when he returned with breathing issues on Jan 27, he was critical and required isolation, prompting the referral to the Thane hospital.

Bhiwandi MLA Rais Shaikh said he would raise the issue of alleged inadequate treatment facilities for dog bites in the constituency during the next assembly session and sought a case against negligent hospital staffers.