Tragic Fall in Delivery Room: Newborn's Life Cut Short at Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital

Photo courtesy: Lankadeepa Photo courtesy: Lankadeepa

In a tragic incident that unfolded at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, a heart-wrenching loss occurred as a newborn, delivered just moments before, met an untimely end by falling to the ground within the delivery room. The child's entry into the world was met with both joy and sorrow, leaving a community in mourning.

The focal point of this heartbreak was a woman named T. A. Taxila Udayangani, a resident of the serene Kallanchiya area nestled within the bounds of Mihintale. Her journey to motherhood began with hope and anticipation, but fate had a different plan.

Udayangani's health took a turn for the worse during her stay at the Kallanchiya Regional Hospital. Recognizing the severity of her condition, medical professionals transferred her to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, a beacon of expertise in the region. The impending birth of her child cast a shadow of uncertainty over these halls of healing.

As medical teams worked tirelessly to ensure a safe delivery, the child was earmarked for the Sutika room, a space specially designed to facilitate the delicate transition from womb to world. It was here that destiny dealt a cruel blow. According to Udayangani's harrowing account, the child slipped from the confines of the bed, suffering grave head injuries in the process.

The infant, despite the best efforts of the medical staff, clung to life in the specialized infant treatment unit. Days turned into nights, and the child's struggle continued. However, hope gradually dimmed as the infant's health declined. On the 10th day since birth, as the sun began its ascent, the child breathed their last, leaving behind a void that no words could fill.

Amidst the grief-stricken corridors of the hospital, the child's father, consumed by sorrow and seeking closure, approached the director of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. His plea for a formal examination aimed to unearth the truth behind the heart-wrenching incident that had forever altered the course of their lives.