AIIMS Delhi forms inquiry committee after death of teen with heart defect

AIIMS Delhi has established a high-level inquiry committee following the death of Tanvi, a 15-year-old girl suffering from a complex congenital heart defect. The investigation aims to review clinical records, medical decisions, and the circumstances surrounding her death to determine if medical negligence or administrative delays occurred.

Tanvi’s family alleges that the hospital repeatedly postponed necessary corrective surgery over a period of more than a decade. Her father, Mukesh Pariyani, stated that the family had been seeking treatment at the institute since 2012 and claimed that scheduled surgeries in 2014 and 2015 never materialized. The family intends to file an FIR against the hospital administration.

Medical officials at AIIMS, including Dr. V. Devagourou, head of the CTVS department, noted that Tanvi was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and pulmonary atresia. Doctors stated that corrective surgery was ruled out around 2017-2018 because her cardiac anatomy made the procedure potentially fatal, leading to a management strategy based on medication. Tanvi was admitted on August 24 for a possible heart-lung transplant evaluation but died early Tuesday morning following a hypoxic spell and cardiac arrest.