Nurse booked for accidentally chopping off tip of newborn’s thumb at Vellore hospital

Staff nurse accidentally chops off newborn's thumb, sparking police investigation and hospital inquiry in Vellore.

A 40-year-old staff nurse at Government Medical College Hospital in Vellore was booked by Vellore Taluk Police on Saturday after she accidentally chopped off the tip of the right thumb of a newborn on Friday, May 30. She was removing paediatric venflon (cannula) from the baby’s hand, when this occured.

The police said the staff nurse was identified as S. Aruna Devi, a native of Adukkamparai village near the government hospital in Vellore. She has been working in the hospital for the past seven years, the police added.

Initial inquiry revealed that V. Nivetha (24) gave birth to the baby boy at the hospital on May 24. Since then, the mother and the baby had been in the maternity ward of the government hospital.

On Friday, when Devi attempted to remove the medical tape on the baby, she mistakenly used scissors. Instead of cutting the tape, she allegedly cut off the tip of the right thumb of the baby. The incident happened around 10 a.m., the police said.

The baby was then taken to the Government Stanley Hospital in Chennai where doctors performed surgery. He is now under observation at the hospital.

Based on a complaint by V. Pushpa (50), the baby’s grandmother, the Vellore Taluk Police registered a case against Devi for negligence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Meanwhile, Vellore Collector V. R. Subbulaxmi has ordered an inquiry into the incident. She has promised the baby’s parents that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the incident.