2 pregnant women die within hours at Jamui Hospital, families allege negligence
Medical Negligence
Jamui: In a shocking incident, two pregnant women died within hours of each other at Jamui Sadar Hospital in Bihar, prompting protests by their families over alleged medical negligence and the purported absence of a female doctor during the night shift.
The deaths triggered an uproar at the hospital, with relatives placing the bodies at the main gate and demanding action against those responsible. Bihar minister Shreyasi Singh also visited the hospital, questioned the management about the deaths and sought strict action if negligence is established. A three-member panel has now been formed to probe the deaths.
Also Read:Patient death triggers clash at Kanpur Hospital, 7 injured
According to the news reports, the first death involved a 28-year-old woman from Nariyana village, who went into labour on Saturday night. She was initially taken to the Khaira Health Centre and was later referred to Jamui Sadar Hospital and reached there around 11 pm.
The family alleged that no female doctor was present in the delivery room when the woman arrived. After examining her, health workers reportedly told the family that a doctor would come. However, her condition allegedly continued to deteriorate during the night. The woman died around 5 am on Sunday.
The second death involved a 26-year-old woman from Chauhandih village. She underwent a Caesarean section at Sadar Hospital on Saturday and gave birth to a boy. Her condition was reportedly stable initially, but it began to deteriorate around midnight.
Her family further alleged that she was not monitored regularly following the surgery. They said a blood transfusion had been advised for the morning, but she died before blood could be arranged.
Her husband had died in a road accident around four months ago. Her newborn son has now been left without his mother.
Following the two deaths, relatives of the women placed their bodies at the hospital's main gate and staged a protest, demanding action against the doctor they held responsible. The families specifically alleged that the female doctor assigned to night duty from 8 pm on Saturday to 8 am on Sunday remained absent throughout the night, India Today reported.
The hospital administration has not confirmed the allegation. The circumstances surrounding the deaths and the doctor's alleged absence will be examined as part of the inquiry.
As per India Today, after being informed about the deaths, Bihar government minister Shreyasi Singh reached Jamui Sadar Hospital and met the aggrieved families to understand what had happened. She then questioned the Deputy Superintendent about the alleged negligence and reprimanded the hospital management in front of the relatives and others gathered at the hospital.
The minister questioned why the critical condition of the patients had not been addressed with the required urgency and why the female doctor had allegedly not been summoned when necessary. She also sought an explanation for the doctor’s alleged absence during the night shift.
Singh stressed that doctors must take timely decisions in critical cases and that patients should be properly monitored even during night hours. Pointing out that two women had died within around 12 hours, she said strict action should be taken against anyone found guilty
The minister also said she would bring the matter to the attention of Health Minister Nishant Kumar and Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary.
Jamui Sadar Hospital Deputy Superintendent Dr Thanish Kumar said an investigation had been initiated into the matter.
He said appropriate action would be taken against the concerned female doctor if her absence from duty was established. He also said that no written complaint had been received from the relatives at the time of his statement
The district administration has constituted a three-member committee to investigate the deaths and the allegations of negligence. The panel is headed by the Deputy Development Commissioner and includes the Civil Surgeon and Senior Deputy Collector Sawan Kumar.
The administration has directed the committee to submit its report within 24 hours. Officials have said action will be taken against anyone found guilty based on the findings of the inquiry.
