Pregnant woman loses 33-week fetus at Chennai CHC, family alleges no doctor was available

According to reports, the woman, identified as 28-year-old Mercy, was brought to the hospital around 11 a.m after she complained of stomach pain.

Following the incident, a protest erupted at the hospital premises on Tuesday morning.

Murugan, an activist, said she had to wait for an hour as no doctor was available. She was then referred to the Government Kasturba Women's Hospital (GOSHA) in Triplicane, about 40 minutes away. Therefore, she was taken from the Community Health Centre to Kasturba Hospital, the nearest government maternity hospital, in an auto-rickshaw, according to TNIE news reports.

At Triplicane Hospital, the woman's family was told that the fetus could not be saved, and the woman's condition was critical.

Meanwhile, doctors at the Community Health Centre denied the unavailability of doctors, stating that the patient was immediately taken for an ultrasound and other tests.

A doctor said, “The fetal heart rate and the patient’s other vitals were normal when we checked in the morning, which was why she was not sent from here in an ambulance. We are trying to ascertain whether there was a few-hour delay in taking her to Triplicane”. 

The doctor further added that “It was the surgeon’s call. Although her vitals were normal when we checked, she presented with pain at 33 weeks (considered preterm), which could be indicative of uterine stress. Her previous delivery was also a C-section. They have better resources.”

Meanwhile, Sholinganallur MLA Saravana Moorthy was present at the scene with police personnel on Tuesday night to pacify the protesters.