Pregnant woman dies after alleged abortion by unqualified staff, AP Medical Council orders probe

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Medical Council has ordered an inquiry into the death of a 31-year-old pregnant woman at a private hospital in Yerragondapalem, Markapuram district, following allegations that an abortion was performed by unqualified medical staff on the instructions of a doctor through a video call. 

The incident occurred after the woman, who was around six months pregnant, was admitted to the hospital on August 25 after complaining of a severe headache and abdominal pain. She died on August 27 after her condition reportedly deteriorated following the alleged botched procedure.

It has been reported that the abortion procedure was allegedly carried out by medical staff who were not qualified to perform the procedure. The hospital is run by a registered medical practitioner, who allegedly provided guidance to the staff remotely through a video call.  

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Following the woman's death, her family members were initially reluctant to register a police complaint, stating that they had no suspicion about the hospital authorities or the circumstances surrounding her death.

According to a report by South First, her husband told the police that he believed his wife had died due to her existing health problems and did not suspect the hospital or its staff.

The case has been registered as an unnatural death, with the FIR naming no accused after the police insisted him to file a complaint.

Meanwhile, local media reports raised suspicions about a possible female foeticide and that the abortion was carried out following an illegal sex determination test, as the couple already have two girl children.

Deva Kumar, Sub-Inspector at Yerragondapalem police station, told South First, "The family was reluctant to file an FIR. We had to push them to file an FIR. They denied any wrongdoing by the hospital."

Regarding the claims made in the local media, Kumar said, "The hospital was not equipped to perform a scan, but shared that they have not ruled out abortion. District Medical officers have visited the hospital today for an enquiry. We are also awaiting a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report to proceed with the further investigation,” he added.

AP Medical Council initiates inquiry

Taking serious note of the allegations, the APMC said it would investigate the matter through its Anti-Quackery Committee and warned of action against unauthorised medical practice and quackery.

In an official release as reported by TNIE, AP Medical Council Chairman Dr Garlapati Nanda Kishore stated that the council’s Anti-Quackery Committee, headed by Dr Subba Naidu, will verify the facts of the tragic incident and initiate appropriate legal and disciplinary action within the council’s mandate.

Dr Nanda Kishore reiterated that unauthorised medical practices will not at all be tolerated and clarified that valid medical qualifications and official registration are mandatory to practice modern medicine, prescribe drugs, or perform procedures like abortions.

Citing Section 20 of the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Act and Section 34 of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, he said that practising medicine without valid credentials is an offence.

He added that the Anti-Quackery Committee will coordinate with the health department officials, the district administrations, and the law enforcement agencies to crack down on every bogus practitioners.

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