Bombay HC forms Eight-member panel to audit Maternity Homes

Mumbai: Following a tragic incident involving the death of a pregnant woman, the Bombay High Court has formed an eight-member panel to audit 30 civic-run maternity homes. The woman's death, allegedly linked to surgery performed under a mobile flashlight due to a power outage, has raised serious concerns about the quality of emergency care provided.

The case came to light after the woman’s husband filed a petition seeking compensation and a thorough investigation into the incident. The tragic incident, occurred in April 2024, at the Sushma Swaraj Maternity Home in Bhandup, where the 26-year-old woman was receiving care.

According to the petition, the woman underwent surgery at the Sushma Swaraj Maternity Home last April. Due to an alleged power failure, the surgical procedure was conducted under the light of a mobile flashlight. Following the surgery, the fetus was delivered stillborn, and the woman was later transferred to Sion Hospital in critical condition, where she passed away hours later.

The petitioner alleged that the maternity home lacked proper facilities, with doctors performing the surgical procedure using only a mobile torchlight for illumination. It also pointed out that despite repeated requests, the husband was not provided with the medical records of his deceased wife.

The petitioner's counsel, Gayatri Singh, argued that the maternity home lacked basic facilities, including adequate staffing, electricity, and beds. She further claimed that the power supply at the facility had been interrupted multiple times on the day of the incident, severely compromising the quality of care provided to the patient.

Also Read: Power Outage at UP Health Centre: Doctors Treat Accident Victims Using Mobile Flashlights

During Wednesday’s hearing, Singh proposed six of the eight members for the panel, which was agreed upon without objections from Advocate Purnima H. Kantharia, who represented the hospital and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Kantharia also suggested that two doctors from state-run hospitals be included in the audit team.

Kantharia said the audit will be conducted as per Standard Operating Procedures under LaQshya or Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative of the Central Government to reduce preventable maternal and newborn mortality.

Also Read: Govt Hospital doctor treats patient under mobile flashlight amid power cut

As part of the audit, four teams, each consisting of two doctors, will visit the maternity homes to conduct a social audit and ensure compliance with quality standards. The bench stated that this process should be completed within eight weeks.