A newborn's thumb was accidentally severed at Vellore Government Medical College Hospital on May 24, allegedly due to the negligent handling of a senior nurse.

The baby, born to Vimalraj (30) and Nivetha (24) of Mullipalayam, Tamil Nadu, was injured during a routine postnatal procedure.

Father Blames Nurse Of Using Phone

According to reports, the nurse was attempting to remove medical tape while changing a glucose needle when she mistakenly used scissors, leading to the amputation of the infant's thumb. The child's father alleged that the nurse was distracted by her mobile phone during the procedure and failed to pay proper attention.

Following the incident, hospital authorities arranged for the baby to be transferred to Stanley Government Hospital in Chennai for emergency surgery. The nurse involved, who has over 15 years of experience, has come under sharp criticism.

Vellore District Collector Subbulaxmi has ordered a formal inquiry and assured strict action, as per a report on India Today. She noted that the use of scissors was unnecessary for the procedure and that it could have been safely performed by hand.

The infant remains under medical care at Stanley Hospital as an internal investigation continues.

Similar Incident Reported In 2021

In a similar incident in 2021, a nurse at Government Raja Mirasudar Hospital (GRMH) in Thanjavur accidentally cut off a portion of a 14-day-old baby's thumb while attempting to remove a cannula using scissors, according to a report on Indian Express.

The baby, born prematurely on May 25, 2021, had congenital anomalies and was on intravenous (IV) support without breastfeeding. The mishap occurred just before her discharge, causing distress to her family.

A senior pediatric surgeon immediately intervened and reattached the severed portion using a suture, though concerns remained about the baby's recovery.