Cuttack, Oct. 9: Controversy over the death of an infant at Sishu Bhavan last December is back in focus after the Odisha Human Rights Commission completed its inquiry into the alleged medical negligence in the death.

Malkangiri resident Balaram Pradhan brought his 40-day-old son Ayush to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics here, better known as Sishu Bhavan, with intestinal obstruction - Hirschsprang's disease - on December 7, 2016. He died on December 13.

Following his death, human rights activist and advocate Pravat Ranjan Dash filed a complaint before the commission alleging negligence at the hospital. The commission sought a detailed report from the health and family welfare department on December 20, 2016. The matter was kept on hold as the commission did not complete investigation into the case.

Official sources said the commission was now ready with its decision after receiving the internal inquiry report of a two-member committee of the paediatric hospital, along with a report of the hospital superintendent.

The commission has fixed October 20 to decide on the matter and has accordingly issued an order asking the complainant to appear in person on that date, the sources said.

In his report, Sishu Bhavan superintendent Saroj Kumar Satpathy said: 'It appears from the report that the patient has received the attention and treatment needed during the course of hospitalisation and surgery was planned on December 13, 2016, and blood was kept ready for possible requirement at the time of surgery. But unfortunately, because of unanticipated sudden deterioration, the patient succumbed to his illness on the early morning of December 13, 2016.'

In his rejoinder, the complainant countered: 'Lack of infrastructure facilities and laxity like non-availability of blood and ICU bed caused the death.'

'The death of Ayush Pradhan, who was in critical condition, could have been avoided if blood would have been available in the blood storage unit and operation could have taken place on December 12, 2016. If no operation then ICU attention could have saved the baby,' Dash said in his rejoinder.