CMCH doctors accused of medical negligence after woman dies Post C-Section

Coimbatore: Doctors at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) have been accused of medical negligence following the death of a 32-year-old pregnant woman who developed complications after undergoing an emergency Caesarean section.

The deceased woman’s family claimed that improper stitching during surgery led to leakage from the surgical site, alleging that trainee doctors handled her case instead of experts, causing complications and eventually her death. They also alleged that she became pregnant despite having undergone a sterilisation procedure earlier and accused the doctors of negligence in handling her case.

However, hospital authorities denied these allegations, stating that the woman died due to multiple high-risk health conditions, including obesity and severe hypertension. They said that although the infection was detected in time, it was not the cause of death. The hospital also clarified that there was no record of the woman having undergone sterilisation earlier and described the case as one of the rarest and most complicated they had handled.

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TNIE reported that the deceased, Sangeetha, a resident of the Amman Kulam Housing Unit area in Coimbatore, was admitted to the government hospital after her health deteriorated during pregnancy. She was the mother of two children.

Family's allegation

According to the family, Sangeetha, who had conceived again after nine years, was undergoing regular antenatal check-ups at CMCH. On December 22, doctors informed them that both the mother and the foetus were in a critical condition and that an immediate C-section was needed to save her life.

During the surgery, a six-month-old foetus was delivered, but doctors told the family that the baby had already died in the womb. The family alleged that Sangeetha’s condition worsened after the surgery. Two days before her death, leakage was noticed from the surgical site, following which she was taken for another operation. However, she died on Tuesday night despite treatment.

Her sudden death angered the relatives who gathered at the hospital on Wednesday and staged a protest, accusing the doctors of medical negligence. They also refused to take the body.

The family claimed that Sangeetha had undergone a sterilisation procedure at the same hospital nine years ago and questioned how she became pregnant again. They also alleged improper stitching during the surgery, which they said caused infection and leakage.

Later, the family submitted complaints to the Coimbatore collector and the police commissioner's office.

A relative of the deceased told TOI, "She had three cuts on her body, one on the abdomen, one on the chest and one near the throat. She had undergone three surgeries, and the doctors never gave clarity on the complications. Faecal matter was leaking through the stitches on her stomach. The hospital administration threatened her husband and her mother-in-law when they sought to shift her to a private hospital."

Hospital clarification

Responding to the allegations, CMCH Dean Dr Geethanjali denied negligence and said Sangeetha was admitted for her third delivery and had multiple high-risk conditions, including obesity and severe hypertension.

She stated that she was already under treatment for her health complications, and doctors decided to prioritise saving the mother’s life due to her dangerously high blood pressure level. She added that the foetus weighed only 360 grams, far below the normal weight for six months.

The dean stated that complications, including infection at the surgical site, were addressed promptly with scans and a second surgery.

She said, "During the procedure, the intestines did not come up, but she had abdominal adhesions due to two previous C-sections. On Dec 27, doctors noticed a small portion of faecal matter on the stitches. They changed the plasters. The doctors, who suspected that there was a hole in the small intestine, took her into a procedure to rectify it. However, her blood pressure was dropping, compounded by her obese body condition, making it highly complicated."

She also clarified that no official records of sterilisation were found, adding that even after such procedures, there is a small chance of pregnancy. An inquiry is currently underway.

"After filing a case, the family members demand a postmortem, which was initially recommended by our team. The body is kept in the mortuary and will not be handed over until a postmortem is performed. This is one of the rarest and most complicated cases we have handled, but we strongly deny any chance of negligence," she added.

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