Health Ministry responds to amputation case involving 2-month-old baby

The Ministry of Health has provided a response regarding the amputation of a 2-month-old baby’s hand, following circulating reports on social media about alleged medical malpractice.

The incident occurred on December 9, 2024, when H.J., a baby born in 2024 from Tashkent’s Shaikhontohur district, was brought to Children’s Clinical Hospital No. 1 with symptoms of fever, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, restlessness, and weakness. Upon arrival, the patient was immediately examined by the on-duty doctor, N. Sultanova.

Initial findings indicated "community-acquired pneumonia," and due to the baby’s critical condition, she was promptly admitted to the hospital’s Department of Pathology for Infants and Premature Babies.

Further medical evaluations by specialists, including a hematologist, angiosurgeon, pediatric surgeon, and neonatal surgeon, led to a revised diagnosis of "sepsis, septicemia, out-of-hospital pneumonia with Covid-19 etiology," along with "congenital heart defect-intercompartmental barrier defect," and complications such as "respiratory insufficiency" and "cardiovascular insufficiency."

While under treatment, the infant developed "thromboembolism of the left brachial artery, acute blood circulation disorder of the left arm, and polyorgan failure.

"Due to the severity of her condition and the need to save her life, it was decided, with the consent of the parents, to proceed with an amputation. The surgery was successfully performed, and the baby’s condition is now stable," the report stated.

The Ministry of Health has stated that the situation is under full control and a service inspection is ongoing to clarify the circumstances of the incident.