"Dead" baby found breathing on way to funeral
Two new parents have been on an emotional roller coaster after they were told both their newborn twins had died – only to discover one of them in fact survived.
The boy was pronounced dead mere hours after his stillborn twin sister in New Delhi, India on November 30. Incredibly, while on their way to the crematorium, the parents noticed “some movement” inside one of the bags containing their babies’ bodies.
“When we opened the bag, we found the boy breathing,” the baby’s grandfather, Praveen Malik, told CNN. “I was shocked. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
They rushed the newborn to the closest hospital where they were told their son was still alive.
Doctors at Max Hospital, which delivered the twins, claimed in a statement that the child was “handed over without any sign of life” to the parents.
As a result of the devastating mix-up, however, the hospital has fired two doctors involved – though they say this is not to be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
“We wish to clarify that this action should not presuppose finding of any lapse by the expert group and should not be construed in any way to be anything other than an expression of our continued commitment to providing quality healthcare.”
The baby boy is reportedly in a critical condition and receiving treatment at the Delhi New Born Centre. “He is on ventilator support, nutrition support and other supports,” the centre’s Dr Sandeep Gupta said. “We are managing to maintain his vitals at the moment but the condition is very serious.”
The family remains uncertain as to whether or not their boy will survive, but say they will not be taking him back to Max Hospital for treatment.
“We don’t want to keep our baby at Max Hospital," Malik said. “We don’t trust the doctors there. They betrayed us.”