The family of 14-year old Reeda Shaikh, who became India’s first victim of the H1N1 virus, alleged “gross negligence” and said they would sue the Jehangir Hospital and the Ruby Hall Clinic.
Reeda, a student of St Anne’s School, died on Monday evening. Her father Sajid, mother Saida, aunt Ayesha Shaikh, along with their lawyers Asif Lampwala and Amol Jadhav addressed a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Lampwala said they would file criminal and civil cases against the hospitals. He also alleged that the two hospitals had a nexus between them.
He questioned as to why the patient’s relatives were asked by Jehangir Hospital to get the test for the virus done at the Ruby Hall Clinic and not the National Institute of Virology (NIV), the nodal agency entrusted with H1N1 virus test.
The family claimed that Reeda was shifted to a private room from the ICU when she was on ventilator support.
Reeda’s aunt Ayesha said that they weren’t informed that the girl had tested positive for H1N1 till July 31.
Reeda was admitted to Jehangir Hospital on July 26 at 3am. She was first treated for acute respiratory distress syndrome and later pneumonia. When her condition deteriorated, her blood samples were sent to Ruby Hospital, which sent the report negative. It was, however, proved wrong at the testing done for the virus at NIV.
Lampwala said the family members wanted to teach the hospitals a lesson. “We are seeking a huge compensation. The money would be donated to charity,” he said.
