Grave Medical Negligence by AYUSH Doctor: NHRC Directs Odisha Govt to Pay Rs 4 L Compensation to Woman

Bhubaneswar: Taking cognisance of an instance of grave medical negligence by an Ayush doctor deployed at the Community Health Centre in Keonjhar District in 2022, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday directed the Odisha Government to pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to a woman patient who suffered serious complications. 

After experiencing profuse bleeding after giving birth to a newborn, the patient was admitted to CHC, Padmapur on August 13, 2022. However, instead of referring the patient to Keonjhar DHH, the treating doctor allegedly stitched her urinary bladder.

Apart from awarding the compensation to the patient, the NHRC has also issued directions to the Chief Secretary of the State to submit compliance report within six weeks, IANS has reported.

"The Government of Odisha through its Chief Secretary, is recommended to release Rs 4,00,000 to the victim Gurubari Mahanta, wife of Pradeep Patel of Sendkap in Keonjhar Sadar block, and submit the compliance report along with the proof of payment to the Commission within six weeks," stated the order.

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Responding to the Apex Rights Body's directions, the State Government has agreed to the suggestion regarding the deduction of the compensation amount from the salary of the erring AYUSH doctor, Ashok Kumar Sahoo.

The Chief District Medical Officer, Keonjhar, in an inquiry report, stated that as per the guidelines of the state government, the Ayush doctor should have referred the woman to the Keonjhar district hospital, which is just 12 km away from Padmapur, after providing basic treatment.

The woman who experienced profuse bleeding after the delivery of her baby girl was admitted to the CHC, Padmapur on August 13, 2022, and the doctor, instead of referring her to the Keonjhar DHH, allegedly stitched her urinary bladder.

"Repairing of extensive tears in the vagina, including anal tear, is beyond the capacity of an Ayush doctor but Dr Sahoo ventured stitching without assessing the gravity of the situation and without realising the follow-up complications," stated the order.

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