Girl's death: Panel probe claim hospital was lax

Star: PENANG: A five-man panel has started investigations into alleged negligence in the treatment of Year Six pupil, S. Subashini, who died at the Seberang Jaya Hospital, after apparently hanging herself.
State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman P.K. Subbaiyah said the panel started talking to medical officers and staff of the Seberang Jaya and Sungai Bakap hospitals yesterday.
He said the panel would also invite Subashini's parents to give their statements.
“We view this matter very seriously and want to be transparent in our investigations.
“Any negligence on the part of the hospital authorities will be dealt with appropriately,” he told reporters outside the state assembly hall here yesterday.
S. Subashini, 12, was sent to the hospital after she was found with a blanket around her neck in her house at Changkat, Nibong Tebal last Saturday.
Her father G. Sivakumar, 36, alleged that the hospital had neglected to ward her in the intensive care unit despite her critical condition. Instead, she was admitted to the general ward and pronounced dead the next day at 4.05am.
The panel, headed by Ipoh Hospital physician Datuk Dr K. Chandran, comprises forensic pathologist Datuk Dr Bhupinder Singh, Penang Hospital psychiatrist Dr Lai Fong Hwa, Penang Hospital anaesthesiologist Datuk Dr Jahizah Hassan and private practitioner Dr B. Ravichandran.
Subbaiyah said the inclusion of Dr Chandran and Dr Ravichandran was because the state wanted to be impartial in its investigations.