12-Year-Old Boy Dies Weeks After Stray Dog Attack in Bhiwandi; Family Alleges Hospital Negligence

A 12-year-old boy from Bhiwandi died last Friday, nearly three weeks after being mauled by a stray dog while playing outside his home on January 10. The incident has sparked allegations of medical negligence against the government-run Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital, though hospital authorities maintain that all necessary treatment was provided on time.

The child, identified as Hamid Khan, sustained deep bite wounds on his face and near his ribs during the attack. He was initially rushed to IGM Hospital, where doctors administered the first dose of the anti-rabies vaccine. Given the severity of his injuries, he was referred to Thane Civil Hospital for a surgical opinion. Doctors there advised hospital admission, but the family, citing financial and travel constraints, brought him back to IGM Hospital in Bhiwandi.

Hamid subsequently received additional anti-rabies vaccine doses on January 13 and January 17 and was scheduled for the final dose on January 28. However, his condition deteriorated on January 27, when he developed respiratory complications.

Doctors at IGM Hospital referred him again to Thane Civil Hospital, stating that he required advanced medical care. From there, he was shifted to the government-run Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokli, Mumbai, for ICU treatment. Despite medical efforts, Hamid succumbed during treatment.

Health officials said the cause of death will be confirmed after the autopsy report, while IGM Hospital superintendent Dr Madhavi Pandhare stated that the death may have occurred due to rabies affecting the brain or low immunity. She added that the hospital had administered anti-rabies vaccines, serum, tetanus injections, and antibiotics, and had referred the patient appropriately whenever advanced care was required.

However, the family accused IGM Hospital of inadequate facilities and alleged that the hospital had effectively become only a “referral centre.” Supporting the family’s concerns, Bhiwandi MLA Rais Shaikh said he would raise the issue of insufficient treatment infrastructure for dog bite cases in the constituency during the next assembly session and demanded action against negligent hospital staff if lapses are found.