INDORE: A nurse at MY Hospital, Indore, allegedly cut the thumb of a one-and-a-half-month-old boy with scissors while removing an IV cannula earlier this week. Nursing officer Aarti Kshotriya was suspended after the negligence was discovered, while a month’s salary of a nursing in-charge and two assistant nursing in-charge officers was withheld as punishment, MG Medical College dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoria said. “MY Hospital superintendent was asked to probe the matter and submit a report,” he added.

The infant had been admitted to the chest ward with pneumonia and survived ventilator support. He was to be discharged in a couple of days when the reckless act occurred on Jan 7. The baby was rushed to the Super Specialty Hospital, where surgeons reattached his thumb. “He is recovering well,” Dr Ghanghoria said. An inquiry committee comprising hospital superintendent Dr Ashok Yadav, paediatrician Dr Nirbhay Mehta, deputy superintendent Dr Rohit Baderia, and nursing superintendent Dayavati Dayal recorded the statement of the accused nurse on Thursday. Madhya Pradesh DyCM Rajendra Shukla, who is in charge of the health department, took cognisance of the negligence and directed a thorough investigation into the role of the medical and support staff concerned. He also directed officials to ensure strict disciplinary action against officers and employees found guilty.