The video recorded on June 6 showed the parents of the boy pushing him on a stretcher for nearly a kilometre between the two hospitals under the intense summer heat. (Photo generated via AI)Authorities at Indore’s Maharaja Yeshwantrao (MY) Hospital have initiated disciplinary proceedings against hospital staff after a video showing the parents of an 11-year-old boy pushing him on a stretcher in the scorching afternoon heat from there to the Super Speciality Hospital sparked outrage and raised questions about patient care at Madhya Pradesh’s largest government-run medical facility.Hospital officials said action has been taken against staff found responsible for lapses in handling the case. The attending doctor has been penalised with a seven-day salary deduction, and three nurses have been docked a day’s salary each. The security in-charge has been suspended, and show-cause notices have been issued to several officials, including the hospital superintendent and a neurosurgeon. The hospital has also imposed a Rs 1-lakh penalty on the agency that manages its housekeeping and security.The video recorded on June 6 showed the parents of the boy pushing him on a stretcher for nearly a kilometre between the two hospitals under the intense summer heat. The footage quickly went viral on social media.However, hospital authorities have disputed suggestions that the child was abandoned without care or transport. Speaking to The Indian Express, superintendent Dr Ashok Yadav said the child had been under treatment for a prolonged illness involving neurological complications and had already undergone a neuro-intervention procedure.“The family was anxious about the child’s condition and wanted multiple medical opinions. They were repeatedly approaching different doctors and departments. There was a need only for documentation and paperwork between the facilities, but instead they brought the child along,” Yadav said.According to him, the stretcher used in the journey was provided by hospital staff, a decision he described as a mistake. He maintained that physically shifting the patient was not medically required at that stage and that the movement occurred amid confusion regarding referrals and documentation.Family’s accountThe family’s account paints a different picture. The parents said they felt compelled to transport their son themselves after facing delays and uncertainty while seeking specialised treatment. They said doctors had advised them to visit the Super Speciality Hospital for further evaluation and a spinal brace, but no timely assistance was provided for the transfer.Story continues below this adAccording to the family, the boy had been undergoing treatment for around 15 days. He was admitted to MY Hospital and was referred to the Super Speciality Hospital because of a spinal issue.But when the family reached there, they were allegedly told that the child did not need admission and that only the file and documents had to be examined. The family then had to bring him back to MY Hospital again on the stretcher, on their own, they said.Family members said exposure to the heat causes the boy significant distress, forcing his mother to repeatedly soak a scarf in water and place it over his body during the journey.Past controversiesThe latest controversy adds to a string of incidents that have placed MY Hospital under scrutiny. In January this year, a one-and-a-half-month-old infant lost a thumb allegedly after a nurse severed it while removing an intravenous cannula, forcing the child to undergo emergency microsurgery at the Super Speciality Hospital in an attempt to reattach the digit. The episode triggered disciplinary action and widespread criticism of safety standards. Months earlier, the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was rocked by allegations that newborns had suffered rat-bite injuries.Story continues below this adHospital authorities subsequently acknowledged a rodent infestation and initiated pest-control measures. The issue escalated further after grieving families linked a series of newborn deaths to rat attacks, allegations that the hospital denied, maintaining that the infants had succumbed to underlying medical complications rather than bite-related injuries.Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:bhopalMadhya Pradesh