Lawyers representing the rights of the eight-year-old girl, whose hand was amputated while receiving treatment for a fever at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, urged the Jaffna court to order the immediate arrest of the three main suspects involved in the case, yesterday (11).
The lawyers argued that the two committees appointed to investigate the incident have yet to submit their reports to the court, raising suspicions that health officials implicated in the case may be protected.
Additionally, the legal team informed the court of substantial evidence suggesting that both the Jaffna Hospital management and officers of the Northern Provincial Health Services Directorate have suppressed the incident to shield those involved.
The court heard that witnesses have reported the head nurse in the ward was engaged in a video call on a mobile phone and answering calls when the girl was admitted, and the lawyers insisted that the doctor, nurse, and male nurse in charge of the ward should be promptly arrested.
The Jaffna Magistrate, A. H. Anandaraja, ordered that the committee’s report should be presented to the court before November 7. He also stated that the case will be heard on that day, with the possibility of issuing arrest orders for the relevant officials if necessary.
