Bombay HC forms Eight-member panel to audit Maternity Homes

Mumbai: Following a tragic incident involving the death of a pregnant woman, the Bombay High Court has formed an eight-member panel to audit 30 civic-run maternity homes. The woman's death, allegedly linked to surgery performed under a mobile flashlight due to a power outage, has raised serious concerns about the quality of emergency care provided.

The case came to light after the woman’s husband filed a petition seeking compensation and a thorough investigation into the incident. The tragic incident, occurred in April 2024, at the Sushma Swaraj Maternity Home in Bhandup, where the 26-year-old woman was receiving care.

According to the petition, the woman underwent surgery at the Sushma Swaraj Maternity Home last April. Due to an alleged power failure, the surgical procedure was conducted under the light of a mobile flashlight. Following the surgery, the fetus was delivered stillborn, and the woman was later transferred to Sion Hospital in critical condition, where she passed away hours later.

The petitioner alleged that the maternity home lacked proper facilities, with doctors performing the surgical procedure using only a mobile torchlight for illumination. It also pointed out that despite repeated requests, the husband was not provided with the medical records of his deceased wife.