LNJP panel of hosp forms to establish guidelines for child births prior to 24-weeks of gestation

New Delhi: Officials announced Friday that the LNJP Hospital had formed a panel to develop guidelines for childbirths occurring before the end of 24 weeks of pregnancy. The move comes in the wake of the recent incident in which a newborn baby, who was “declared dead” soon after birth, but was later found alive. When the family was making arrangements for her burial, the family found out that the baby was alive and well. She was born at 23 weeks pregnant and weighed only 490g. The baby was taken back to the hospital, where she was placed on ventilator support. She died Wednesday. Doctors had earlier said, such babies in medical terms are considered “non-viable” and their chances of survival are slim. “We are making guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on how to handle such babies. The guidelines will be submitted to the government,” said LNJP medical director Dr Suresh Kumar.