Una Hospital doctor suspended after woman dies during childbirth
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has suspended a medical officer posted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Regional Hospital, Una, following the deaths of a 33-year-old woman admitted for delivery and her unborn child and doctor's alleged absence from duty after the incident.
According to the suspension order, the woman, a resident of Upper Arniala village in Kotla Kalan area of Una district, was admitted to Regional Hospital, Una, on October 7 for delivery. She died on October 9.
An inquiry committee was constituted by the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, which was headed by Senior Medical Officer Dr. Vikas Chauhan, and directed to submit its report within three days.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that allegations of medical negligence have surfaced at the Regional Hospital in Una after a 33-year-old woman and her unborn child died during childbirth on Friday morning. The incident triggered tension at the hospital, with the family demanding the immediate arrest of the doctor concerned.
According to the news reports, the woman, a resident of Arniala, was admitted to the hospital on October 6. Her death during childbirth sparked outrage among family members, who called for an impartial investigation into the circumstances leading to the incident.
According to ANI, the order stated that a medical officer in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBG) department, "remained absent from duty after the incident, failed to appear" before the committee for the preliminary inquiry, and switched off both her mobile phones.
Citing the seriousness of the incident and the potential law-and-order situation at the hospital, the state government ordered her immediate suspension under Rule 10(1) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.
During the suspension period, the doctor's headquarters have been fixed at the Directorate of Health Services in Shimla and have been directed not to leave the headquarters without prior official permission.
The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the patient’s death is underway. The findings of the committee are awaited.
Also Read:Odisha Govt suspends jail doctor over alleged threat call to murder case witness
