Following a complaint filed by a city-based lawyer after reading a news report in The Free Press Journal about a 12-day-old infant whose mouth was taped with a pacifier, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) not only questioned the hospital authorities but also ensured that the case reached the right stage of investigation.
In its final order, the SHRC mentioned that after the matter came to its attention via a newspaper report, the medical officers of the Savitribai Phule Maternity Home were summonsed, and they had accordingly filed a detailed affidavit. The affidavit specified that a committee of three experts had been constituted to inquire into the incident. Based on their recommendations, the erring nurse was advised to go on mandatory leave.
A newspaper report published by The Free Press Journal on February 23, 2023, titled “BMC Nurse Pastes Adhesive Tape on Newborn’s Mouth, Claims It to Be Common Practice in NICUs”, highlighted how a 12-day-old infant admitted to the NICU had adhesive tape pasted on his mouth because he wouldn’t stop crying. An FIR was registered against the nurse, Savita Bhoir, who allegedly committed the act. The FIR also named two more nurses, Shweta and Shraddha (their full names were not mentioned in the FIR copy accessed by FPJ).
The hospital authorities, in their affidavit filed before the SHRC, confirmed that Savita Bhoir had been terminated from duty, while an FIR was registered against Shweta and Shraddha as well. The two were booked under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The affidavit further stated that a chargesheet had been filed against all three nurses.
After reviewing the details mentioned in the affidavit, the SHRC observed: “With the appropriate action taken by both the police and hospital authorities, I don’t think any further inquiry is warranted. Hence, the complaint stands closed and disposed of.”
Advocate Tushar Bhosale, had filed the complaint before the SHRC after reading the FPJ report dated February 23,2023.
Speaking to FPJ, Advocate Bhosale said: “After reading the article in a newspaper, I filed a petition before the Human Rights Commission and the matter was placed before SHRC member M.A. Sayyed. The commission had issued summons to the concerned police station to file an FIR against the accused. Although an FIR was registered against the nurse, no action was taken against the management. Now that the FIR has been filed, the case before the SHRC is closed, and there is nothing more before the commission.”
According to the FIR, Priya Kamble (28) delivered a baby boy at the Savitribai Phule Maternity Home in Bhandup on May 20, 2023. She was admitted for three days after the delivery and was later discharged. However, on May 31, Priya brought her child back to the hospital as he had turned yellow, suspecting him to suffer from Jaundice. She requested the hospital to admit him to the NICU, which was done accordingly.
On June 2, when Priya entered the NICU, she was shocked to see her child with a pacifier taped to his mouth. Horrified by the sight, she confronted the nursing staff, who allegedly responded that it was common practice to tape pacifiers to newborns’ mouths in the NICU to stop them from crying.
