Hospital accused of negligence for boy’s fatal fall
A 6-YEAR-OLD boy died after falling from the seventh floor of a Bao'an hospital Monday evening while he was visiting his newborn sister,the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.
The Shajing People's Hospital claimed it was an accident,but the boy's parents said the hospital had been negligent,as its facilities pose potential dangers to patients.
For the boy's father Pu Zhihui,a Hunan migrant working in Shenzhen,Monday was a day he would never forget.Hours after he went through the overwhelming joy of welcoming a baby daughter,he was struck by the sorrow of losing his son.
Pu Xudong,a student of Hua'nan Kindergarten in Bao'an District,accompanied his father to visit his newborn sister after dinner Monday.His mother had given birth that morning.
The boy,excited about becoming an elder brother that day,climbed onto the hospital bed to play with the baby.The bed was placed next to the window.The tragedy occurred after the boy kissed his little sister good-bye,rose from the bed and was ready to leave for home.
While attempting to stand up,the boy lost his balance and fell out of the open window.His parents were not quick enough to catch him.
When Pu Zhihui hurried downstairs and took his son to the emergency department,doctors said the boy could not be saved.
"Why they didn't install an iron grille on the window?" questioned the boy's mother Zhou Caifeng."A grown-up could have fallen out of the window."
"At least the hospital could have moved the bed away from the window," she added.
The hospital said it had intended to install an iron grille,but was forbidden to do so by firefighting authorities.
"The bed was placed close to the window because there were too many patients and not enough room in the ward," it said in a statement,adding that the parents had not obeyed hospital rules which stipulate that visiting children should not be taken into the wards.
"No one stopped us when I took my boy there Monday evening," Pu said.
The case has been reported to the local police and public health authorities.An investigation is under way.