Baby theft: state gets 2 weeks to file compliance report on HC guidelines

A division bench of Justice B H Marlapalle and Justice U D Salvi, said “After our orders (of framing guidelines), one more child has gone missing.” The court is hearing habeas (produce person in court) petition filed by Mohan and Mohini Nerurkar whose newborn was stolen from the Sion Hospital on Janaury 1, 2009. The infant was stolen from the hospital’s maternity ward on December 31 last year when Mohini allegedly went to the rest room.

Last month, a baby was stolen from VN Desai Hospital in Santacruz when the mother had gone to get the polio drops administered. Anil Sakhare, BMC counsel, argued that in the recent case the mother herself had given the baby to a stranger. “They (mother and child) had come to the OPD. This time we have CCTV footage,” said Sakhare. The court then asked, “Whether they were OPD patients or in-house patients, how does it make a difference.”

Sakhare also informed the court that they have implemented the guidelines in majority of the corporation-run hospitals like the Sion Hospital, BYL Nair Hospital at Mumbai Central, KEM Hospital at Parel, Rajawadi Hospital at Ghatkopar, Bhagwati Hospital at Borivali and KB Bhabha Hospitals at Bandra and Kurla. The state government was unable to file compliance report on implementation of guidelines. 

Public prosecutor Pandurang Pol informed the court that they are waiting for compliance report from the 14 medical education colleges-cum hospitals in addition to the district hospitals. The bench has asked the director of public health department and director of medical education to file compliance reports in two weeks.

Security measures
* No postnatal patients to leave the ward for any reasons except CT Scan, X-rays or Sonography
* CCTV cameras at entry and exit points and sensitive areas
* Round-the-clock security outside children’s ward; female security guards inside the wards
* A walky-talky with security guards; public address system in the ward and passage
* Photographs, addresses and other particulars of the security staff must be noted in a register
* Foot prints, photographs and physical assessment of the infant within 2 hours after birth or admission of the woman or the infant
* Matching identification bands must be attached to the infant, mother and father.
* Only duly authorized female visitor at night