Bardhaman Medical Negligence: Doctors Statement Recorded by WBMC

In a recent development in the ongoing Bardhaman medical negligence case, the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) held a meeting on July 30, 2025, where the parents of Mivaan and Adrita submitted detailed complaint letters against four doctors and Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital in Bardhaman, West Bengal. The summoned doctors appeared before the council's Penal and Ethical Cases Committee in connection with allegations of missed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screenings that led to vision loss in the two children.

What Happened at the WBMC Meeting

During the hearing at the WBMC, the parents of Mivaan and Adrita—children who suffered vision loss due to alleged medical negligence at Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital in Bardhaman—were asked to formally submit complaints detailing allegations against each doctor and the hospital. The four doctors—Dr. Balaram Ghosh, Dr. Mir Tahmid Zaman, Dr. Nibedita Samanta, and Dr. SK Sahabuddin—from the Bardhaman hospital were summoned in the case, and their statements were recorded.

While the parents provided their accounts, the council held a closed-door meeting with the doctors. The outcome remains pending, but the families expressed optimism about accountability.

“We went to the West Bengal Medical Council on the 30th of July, and we were asked by the Council to write a complaint letter addressed to them outlining the allegations we have against each of the doctors and the hospital, which we wrote and submitted. All four doctors who were summoned appeared before the WBMC. We don’t know what the outcome is—it’s too early to say—but we are very hopeful that there will be a positive result. We hope that the negligent doctors who caused this irreversible damage to my baby’s vision will be held accountable, and the hospital will be punished,” said Mivaan’s father, Hitesh Choudhury, speaking to The Probe.

“They asked us to briefly explain the incident. Then they told us to submit the complaint letter, which we did. There were two questions: one was about the incident itself—what happened—and the second was about our specific complaints. We wrote down everything. The WBMC also met with the doctors and spoke to them. It was a closed-door meeting,” said Adrita’s father, Manoj Kumar Ghosh.

The Probe’s Continued Coverage of the Bardhaman Case

Since October 2024, The Probe has consistently reported on the Bardhaman case, bringing attention to the alleged negligence at Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital and tracking developments as they unfold. Our coverage has included official responses, legal proceedings, and the ongoing efforts of the affected families.

Background of the Bardhaman Negligence Case

The case stems from the premature births of Mivaan and Adrita at Sharanya Multispeciality Hospital in 2023. Both children were at high risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition that can cause blindness if not screened within four weeks of birth. Despite extended NICU stays—Mivaan for 43 days and Adrita for 48 days—the hospital failed to conduct the mandatory ROP screenings, leading to irreversible vision loss in the two children.

According to Hitesh Choudhury, he admitted his wife to the Bardhaman hospital on June 23, 2023, expecting a routine delivery. He said that an injection administered at the hospital triggered premature labour, leading to Mivaan's birth.

Post-discharge advice to delay ROP evaluation exacerbated the issue. Similarly, Manoj Kumar Ghosh’s daughter, Adrita, also did not receive the critical screening. A report by the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) for West Bengal later confirmed that both babies’ care lacked the necessary retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening.

The CMOH report highlighted the absence of ROP screening as a direct violation of standards for preterm infants under 1500 grams or less than 32 weeks gestation. It also noted potential tampering in Mivaan's medical records, suggesting an inserted page to falsely claim counseling on ROP.

The families of Mivaan and Adrita have been pursuing justice through the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) and the consumer court. The next consumer court hearing is scheduled for September 17, 2025. Hitesh Choudhury, Mivaan’s father, has also raised concerns about the presence of unregistered nurses at the Bardhaman hospital. He said that the court had sought details on this issue, but the hospital has yet to comply. 

Families Seek Accountability Amid Ongoing Struggles

The vision loss has imposed lifelong burdens on the families. Mivaan’s right eye power has worsened from -10 to -11.5, while Adrita’s has declined from -5 to -7. Financially strained, the parents seek license cancellations for the doctors, withdrawal of the hospital's NICU permission, and compensation.

Despite alleged pressure from local Bardhaman police to settle the matter outside court, the families say they remain firm in their decision to pursue legal action. They have stated that they will fight the case through the legal system and will not consider any out-of-court settlement with the hospital.