Navi Mumbai Doctor Booked For Alleged Medical Negligence

A doctor from Navi Mumbai has been booked for alleged medical negligence in the death of a nine-year-old tribal girl, Khushbu Namdev Thakre. The Pen police registered an FIR against Dr. Mamta Madhukar Gajbe, the then Medical Officer of Primary Health Centre (PHC), Kamal, under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following an investigation into Accidental Death.

Khushbu, a Class IV student at the Government Ashram School in Varvane, was suspected to have leprosy during a school health screening in July 2024 and was formally diagnosed under the state's Kusum (Leprosy-Free Maharashtra) campaign on December 16, 2024. She began multidrug anti-leprosy treatment, including Dapsone, on December 18, 2024.

The girl developed a fever on January 3, 2025, and was taken to PHC Kamal, where blood tests were conducted. She returned with persistent fever on January 10, when she was diagnosed with jaundice and referred to the Pen Sub-District Hospital. On January 16, she was referred to MGM Hospital, Kamothe, where she was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. She died on January 22, 2025.

A Medical Negligence Committee report submitted by the Civil Surgeon, District Hospital, Alibag, on July 8, 2026, found that blood test results received on January 3 had already shown significantly elevated LDH, SGOT and SGPT levels, indicating liver cell damage. The committee concluded that Dapsone should have been stopped immediately, but found no evidence that the medication was discontinued.

The complaint was lodged on behalf of the State by Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh Shivaji Rajput of Pen Police Station. The FIR states that Dr. Gajbe reviewed the laboratory report and made entries in the medical records on January 10, but there was no direction to stop the anti-leprosy drug. The committee further observed that subsequent blood reports showed worsening liver function and that the failure to recognise Dapsone's adverse effects and discontinue the medicine could not be ruled out as a contributing factor in the deterioration of the child's condition.

The family of the deceased girl and activists had launched an indefinite hunger strike and sit-in protest outside the office of the Pen Sub-Divisional Officer on Thursday, demanding a copy of the FIR. The document was handed over only after they called off the agitation.

The incident highlights the need for proper medical care and attention, especially in rural areas. The family of the deceased girl has been demanding justice for over 18 months, and the registration of the FIR is a step towards ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.

The case is a reminder of the importance of medical negligence committees and the need for doctors to be vigilant and responsive to the needs of their patients. The incident has sparked outrage and concern among the community, and it is hoped that the registration of the FIR will lead to a thorough investigation and justice for the family of the deceased girl.

In conclusion, the booking of the doctor for alleged medical negligence is a significant development in the case, and it is hoped that it will lead to a thorough investigation and justice for the family of the deceased girl. The incident highlights the need for proper medical care and attention, especially in rural areas, and the importance of medical negligence committees in ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.