The mother of baby Tuyet Van.

The Ministry of Health has also asked the sponsor of these free surgeries – the Center for Researching and Aiding Smile Operation (OSCA), an NGO registered with the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology, to suspend its free operations during the investigation.

Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Ministry of Health's Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, said the department was informed of the news of the three children's deaths on August 23.

The agency then ordered the Department of Health of Khanh Hoa Province to investigate the incidents and immediately suspend the operation activities of OSCA.

OSCA in coordination with the Military Hospital No. 87 conducted a program to provide free cleft lip and palate operations for children in Khanh Hoa in August.

Three babies - Nguyen Ngoc Tuyet Van, 12 months old; Nguyen Quang Minh, 14 months old; and Pi Nang Tuan Huu, 16 months old -- died in Khanh Hoa Province General Hospital after they had been transferred from the Military Hospital No. 87 on August 23 for emergency aid.

Doctors of Khanh Hoa General Hospital said that Van died due to breathing failure on August 23 and Quang Minh died of the same cause on August 24, while Tuan Huu died on August 25.

Investigations revealed that 11 infants were anesthetized for the charity operation on August 23. Van and Huu experienced anaphylactic shock soon after the anesthetic, while Minh developed anaphylactic shock with the anesthetic after the surgery.

All containers of medications have been sealed as evidence for further investigation.

The program is free for all children and the Military Hospital provides operation rooms, while medical experts from OSCA conduct surgeries.

It was reported that the doctors who were in charge of anaesthetization were very experienced.

This is the first time three infants have died in the charity program. The Military Hospital No. 87 and OSCA carried out operations for over 80 children in 2009.

OSCA chose 56 babies in Khanh Hoa for free operations this time.

VNE/SGGP