Death of twins: Who's to blame?

A couple lost both of their newborn twins in Dhaka recently due possibly to lack of immediate post-natal care. The helpless father, AbulKalam, witnessed their death in an ambulance waiting outside the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). His wife SairaKhatun gave birth to the twins in an auto-rickshaw on her way to a hospital. They were later admitted to Islamia Hospital in Mugda, which referred the newborns to Shyamoli's Dhaka Shishu Hospital, which reportedly declined to treat them.

Kalam, an employee of the Supreme Court, brought the bodies of his children directly to the court premises, demanding justice. The High Court ordered authorities of the three hospitals to submit their explanations within 48 hours for not providing treatment to the infant twins on time, causing their deaths without treatment.

The deaths of the twin infants came to light after the court issued a rule seeking the hospitals' explanations over their deaths. There are many fathers like Kalam who could not even claim that their children died due to treatment-related negligence. There are allegations that hospitals often decline to treat many patients who are in critical conditions. It's time to improve the situation.

Badshah Faysal,

Jurain, Dhaka

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