Family alleges gender swap of newborn son at North Bengal Medical College

In North Bengal Medical College a family alleged that their newborn son was mistakenly declared a daughter. The event unfolded on Thursday evening when Bristi Biswas, a resident of Shailani Jot village in Siliguri, was admitted to the hospital to deliver her baby. Family members reported that Bristi gave birth to a baby boy at approximately 11 PM on Thursday night.

Following the delivery, Bristi's health was monitored due to complications, leading to her remaining in the hospital for further observation. On Friday morning, when relatives visited the hospital to check on Bristi and the newborn, hospital staff informed them that Bristi had actually delivered a baby girl. This announcement contradicted the family's prior understanding, as they had seen and interacted with the baby boy shortly after birth.

The family immediately confronted the nursing staff regarding the gender identification, asserting that they had witnessed the presentation of a male child and had signed the necessary paperwork confirming the birth of a son. Lalita Biswas, a family representative, stated that they were initially shown a baby boy and completed all required documentation, including a birth registration form, which indicated the child’s gender. The family expressed confusion about how the situation could change so dramatically.

In response to the concerns raised, the hospital authorities conducted a review and ultimately returned the baby boy to the family in the afternoon. Nandan Bandopadhyay, the assistant superintendent of North Bengal Medical College, confirmed that they had received a verbal complaint from the family about the gender mix-up. He stated that an investigation is currently underway to determine how the error occurred, including reviewing hospital protocols for newborn gender identification, documentation processes, and communication with families to prevent similar incidents in the future. The hospital is also expected to assess staff training procedures to ensure accuracy in reporting and handling newborns.