A heartbreaking case of alleged medical negligence has come to light in Uttarakhand, where a 14-month-old child, Shivansh Joshi, died after being shuttled between five government hospitals across four districts. The boy, son of Army officer Dinesh Chandra Joshi, had shown signs of severe dehydration on July 10. He was initially taken to the Public Health Centre (PHC) in Gwaldam, Chamoli.

No Pediatrician at First Centre, Baby Referred 22 Km Away

At the PHC, due to lack of pediatric care and essential facilities, the child was referred to Baijnath Community Health Centre in Bageshwar, about 22 km away. There, he was given basic treatment, but his condition worsened, prompting yet another referral to the district hospital in Bageshwar, located 20 km further.

“When we took him to Bageshwar, the doctor said he was in a serious condition. They asked us to call 108 for an ambulance. I called them around 7 pm, and they said they would come in 30 minutes. When they did not show up, I approached a doctor and told him I was helpless and my husband was away at work. They were apathetic to my grief and insisted that we take him to a higher centre,” Shubhanshu’s mother said.

“When doctors asked to call 108 for better treatment, I did, but there was no immediate action. I was alone; my husband was on duty in Jammu and Kashmir. I told the doctor that the ambulance had not arrived. The hospital staff was not concerned about helping us. They were oblivious to our pleas,” said the child’s mother.

Doctor Accused of Ignoring Emergency While on Phone

At the Bageshwar District Hospital, the child’s father alleged that the emergency doctor was distracted on his phone and failed to assess his critically ill son. Despite the child’s worsening condition and visible distress, he was referred again, this time to Almora Medical College, over 60 km away.

“Neither the doctor nor the other staff talked politely. Even during the emergency, the doctor did not check my 14-month-old son properly and instead, referred him to Almora,” he said to the reporters.

Ambulance Delay of Over 2 Hours

The mother reported calling the emergency service (108) at 7 PM for an ambulance to Almora, but no vehicle arrived for over two hours. The ambulance was dispatched only after the family contacted the District Magistrate, with help finally arriving at 9:30 PM.

Doctors at Almora Medical College, lacking specialized care, referred Shivansh to Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani. He was placed on a ventilator on July 12. Despite days of treatment, the infant died on July 16 leaving the family devastated.

“I have lost my one-year-old son. I pray that no parent has to go through what I did. The child was alive when we took the child from Gwaldam to Baijnath to Bageshwar,” the mother added while wiping her tears..

Chief Minister Orders Probe, Promises Accountability

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami condemned the incident, calling it deeply painful. He announced a formal investigation and assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty of neglect or indifference. The case has reignited concerns about poor emergency infrastructure in remote areas of the hill state.

“It is an unfortunate incident. To carry out health services at their best is our duty, but if any healthcare official slacks on their duties, then to take the right action against them is the government’s duty, and we have initiated a probe into this. Those responsible for this will be penalised,” he said.

“The news of the death of an innocent child in Bageshwar due to negligence in medical treatment is extremely painful and unfortunate,” Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X. “As per the information received so far, it appears at first glance that negligence has been shown by officials and employees at certain levels in the discharge of their duties. Immediate investigation orders have been given to the Kumaon Commissioner. If negligence or indifference is found at any level in this case, the strictest action against the guilty will be ensured. No leniency will be tolerated in protecting the trust and lives of the public.”