3 doctors get 5 years imprisonment for pregnant woman's death

Meerut: The Bijnor district court has sentenced three doctors to five years in prison for medical negligence that led to the death of a pregnant woman at Anmol Health Care Centre in the Chandpur area. The trio, including a female physician, was also slapped with a fine of Rs 60,500 each.

The incident, which occurred in August 2023, highlights a tragic instance of healthcare malpractice. According to the FIR, the victim, a resident of Ladoopura, was admitted to the Anmol Health Care Centre in Chandpur after experiencing labour pains. Her husband reported to the police that his wife underwent a surgical procedure to deliver a baby girl. However, following the surgery, her condition deteriorated due to excessive bleeding.

Despite the critical nature of her condition, the prosecution stated that the doctors failed to provide timely emergency care and abandoned the operating theatre, leaving the patient unattended. As a result of this negligence, the woman’s condition worsened rapidly, and she tragically succumbed to the complications. The court ruled that her death was directly caused by the doctors’ negligence.

Following a complaint from the woman's husband, a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was filed at the Chandpur police station. The police arrested the three doctors involved and subsequently filed a charge sheet against them.

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According to the Hindustan Times, “During the trial, the prosecution presented eight witnesses. However, in a surprising turn of events, the victim’s husband turned hostile and gave false testimony, allegedly in collusion with the accused. The court declared him a hostile witness but went ahead with the proceedings based on other witness accounts,” the prosecution officer said.

The three doctors—one from the Mormakdoompur Shivalakalan area, another from Chandpur, and the third from Pattiya Para—were found guilty of negligence under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Medical Council Act.

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