An Indian Australian family have had the worst nightmare that a family can go through.
Their nine-month-old son Zehaan Singh died after a brief sickness followed by three days of hospitalisation at the Northern Hospital in Epping and Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.
Epping-based Nirpal Singh ‘Jolly’ and Tavleen Kaur said the circumstances leading to the death of their baby boy have been ‘heartbreaking and devastating’.
Tavleen Kaur, the deceased boy’s mother, has alleged that there was negligence on the part of the staff of Northern Hospital in Epping, in monitoring the condition of their son while they helplessly waited to see him improve.
“He would have been alive on this earth if there’re due care and proper safety measures. We trusted the medical services but they let us down,” Ms Kaur said in an interview with SBS Punjabi.
“This is not acceptable. We need justice and we’ll fight for it till our last breath.”
Ms Kaur said the loss of a baby is one of the most devastating things that a parent can experience.
She has demanded an extensive review of the ‘set of events’ that lead to the death of her son Zehaan Singh.
The grief-stricken family and their supporters staged a candlelight vigil and protest in front of the Northern Hospital, Epping on Thursday night. Source: Supplied
Candlelight vigil and protest outside the Northern Hospital
The grieving family and their supporters staged a protest and a candlelight vigil in front of the Northern Hospital, Epping on Thursday night.
The demonstration was attended by local members of the area who also demanded a Royal Commission to investigate infant deaths in Australian hospitals.
One of those present, Mr Singh, expressed his grief and solidarity with the family.
“This is tragic and very unfortunate. We stand with the family,” he said.
“They’ve every right to know what lead to the death of this innocent boy. We demand an extensive external review to investigate this matter.”
Series of events
Ms Kaur told SBS Punjabi that Zehaan was admitted to Northern Health Hospital, Epping on 2 May.
“My son did two vomits and he was little uneasy and I took him to the Northern Health Hospital Epping,” she said.
“I was extremely concerned about my child’s health and dehydration as the hospital staff made us waits for one and a half hour and did not take it seriously.
“I’d informed the medical staff that for the whole day he didn’t have milk or eaten anything. So I kept on making requests until the next day to give him some fluids. But the staff denied these requests saying they believe in the natural process of recovery.”
Ms Kaur said her child’s health further deteriorated in the early morning on 3 May.
“At 1.30AM, he started crying and when I took him in my arms I noticed that he was shaking. I immediately called the nurse and she checked his vital signs before calling the doctors.”
“He was given Midazolam for sedation. And just after two minutes his eyes got swollen, body temperature raised, and my son started moaning like anything.
“I rushed to the staff telling them he got a reaction from this medicine. But they said it’s not possible.”
Ms Kaur said the blood tests revealed that Zehaan’s sodium levels had been significantly dropped.
Early days: Nirpal Singh ‘Jolly’ and Tavleen Kaur with their baby boy Zehaan Singh. Source: Supplied
“Around 7AM they started giving him fluids and sodium. But later it was stopped after the doctor advised to put a nasogastric tube to give him milk for his nutritional needs."
“I felt like putting a nasogastric tube was an experiment for them. But the condition didn’t improve. In the evening, he was in my lap when he vomited and after that, he turned blue and his body got stiff.”
“Now this triggered panic. Suddenly, so many doctors and staff members came into the room. They started the process to transfer him to the Royal Children’s hospital.”
Ms Kaur claimed that the transfer process took at least three to four hours.
Early days: Nirpal Singh ‘Jolly’ and Tavleen Kaur with their baby boy Zehaan Singh. Source: Supplied
“It was a nightmare. Our child had died at the Northern hospital itself but they still transferred him to Royal Children’s to fool us.”
“It is utter negligence and malfeasance that no one has come out to take responsibility when a child dies at a hospital. All they say is sorry! It’s not okay and is never going to be.”
“I am going to fight for him. He needs justice. May your angelic soul rest in peace, my baby.”
Zehaan’s father Mr Singh said they now want to see an improvement in the medical system.
“We don’t want any other parents to lose their children due to inadequate medical care. So, please support us in our darkest time,” he said.
Source: Supplied
‘We have commenced an extensive review’
Meanwhile, Northern Health in a statement to SBS Punjabi said they have referred the matter for an investigation.
“We extend our sincerest sympathy to the family of Zehaan. There can be nothing more tragic than the loss of a child,” a spokesperson for Northern Health said in the statement.
“We have commenced an extensive review of the care received, with independent clinical experts.”
