Gyanecologist booked for negligence after woman dies post childbirth

Gurugram: Following the death of a new mother due to postpartum haemorrhage at Saksham Health Care Hospital in Sector-83, Gurugram, a gynaecologist posted at the hospital has been booked in a medical negligence case in connection with the incident. 

The action comes after an inquiry into the incident found the doctor at fault, as the patient’s medical history, having undergone a previous C-section, clearly indicated that a normal delivery was not advisable. Despite this, the doctor reportedly chose to proceed with a normal delivery.

Based on the findings of an inquiry conducted by the medical negligence board, the police have registered an FIR against the gynaecologist and hospital officials under Sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The action was taken following a recommendation from the Haryana health department. 

Also read- Pregnant woman dies at Gurugram Hospital, kin alleges negligence

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the family of a 30-year-old pregnant woman, who died at a private hospital in Manesar, allegedly due to a postpartum haemorrhage, has accused the hospital of medical negligence. The woman, a resident of Manesar, was admitted to Saksham Health Care Hospital located in Sector-83 Manesar for delivery around 9 a.m. on January 5.

According to the complaint, the deceased's husband, Manoj Yadav, admitted his wife, Monika Yadav, for delivery around 9 a.m. on January 5. Doctor Parashar at Saksham Health Care Hospital performed a normal delivery around 2:20 p.m. She delivered a male child on January 5.

"After delivery, she was responding well. The doctors suggested we go home as the medical staff would take care of the patient. At around 6:40 p.m., her condition deteriorated due to bleeding, and the doctor failed to control her bleeding, and later she died at the hospital," said the deceased's husband.

He alleged that the hospital administration did not arrange an ambulance on time. They did not even use a blood unit despite being arranged by the family.

"My wife was in immense pain and was begging me to save her. I told doctors that she was in pain, but they said this was normal and she will recover soon. Soon after, she lost consciousness. Doctors then put her in an ambulance and asked me to rush to another hospital as the case was beyond their control," the complaint said.

"She died at the hospital, but despite this, and to misguide us, they shifted my wife to another private hospital, where the hospital management informed us that she died several hours ago," Manoj alleged.

Nearly 5 months after her death, an inquiry committee led by a group of health department doctors found several lapses on the part of the gynaecologist and hospital, which led to the woman’s death. This included carrying out a normal delivery instead of a C-section, non-availability of blood for transfusion and absence of ambulance service.

Inspector Virender Khatri, station house officer (SHO) of Kherki Daula police station, told HT, "On the basis of the board’s recommendation, we registered a case and initiated an investigation."

In his complaint, Manoj alleged that the gynaecologist initially told them that a Caesarean delivery would be necessary. But on January 5, the doctor opted for a normal delivery, which took over five hours. After the birth, my wife began to bleed heavily. I raised the alarm, but the doctor dismissed it as normal. He further alleged that despite her worsening condition, she was not shifted to the ICU or referred to another facility. 

“When her condition deteriorated, a nurse administered an anaesthetic and claimed she would be shifted to another hospital. That’s when we realised there was no ambulance available. By then, Monika had died,” he alleged.

A senior health department official said, "The patient’s medical history clearly ruled out the possibility of a normal delivery. She had previously undergone a Caesarean section. Despite this, the gynaecologist attempted a normal delivery, delaying the childbirth by several hours and thereby increasing complications."

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