21-year-old woman dies after stillbirth; probe flags lapses at Tamil Nadu Hospital

The deceased was identified as Jannath Nisha, a resident of Pottal Pudur in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu. 

According to Health Department officials, the woman went into labor on Wednesday night, after which her family admitted her to a private hospital. The hospital staff allegedly attempted a normal delivery using forceps. She gave birth to a stillborn baby and suffered severe haemorrhage.

Following her condition, the hospital staff referred him to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TvMCH). The family members transported her by ambulance to TvMCH, which is located approximately 40 kilometres away from the nursing home. However, on arrival, she was declared 'brought dead'.

Following this incident, Dr Latha, Joint Director of Health Services for Tirunelveli, and Dr Muralishankar, the District Health Officer, inspected the private hospital on Thursday. During the inspection, it was reportedly found that the hospital lacked the necessary facilities to handle complicated pregnancies and that negligence had been committed by the doctors during the delivery process.

Speaking to the TNIE, Dr Latha said, “We have sealed the scan centre functioning in the hospital, and instructed them not to perform any procedures for deliveries. We are discussing further action against the hospital”.

Meanwhile, health workers involved in the inspection stated that the hospital lacked a labor ward and was not authorised to conduct such procedures.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that under a first-of-its-kind initiative in Odisha, the government-run Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College and Hospital has launched a special unit for mother and newborn care on Sunday.  

Also Read: MKCG Medical College launches special mother and newborn care unit