4 Bhadohi hospital doctors found guilty of negligence, nurse suspended after woman delivers by roadside
Medical Negligence
Bhadohi: Four doctors and a staff nurse at a district hospital in Bhadohi have been found guilty of serious negligence following an inquiry into the alleged denial of admission to a pregnant tribal woman who was forced to deliver her baby by the roadside, officials said on Thursday.
According to the news reports, the incident involving a 20-year-old woman, who belongs to the Musahar tribal community, triggered outrage after allegations surfaced that hospital staff refused to admit her when she arrived at Maharaja Chet Singh Government District Hospital. Her family also alleged that staff refused to even touch the woman upon her arrival.
The matter came to light after a video of the incident went viral. Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak took cognisance of the incident and ordered an inquiry.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Santosh Kumar Chak stated that a three-member inquiry team comprising deputy CMOs Ram Ashish Saroj and Om Prakash Shukla and gynaecologist Shalini Pathak was formed under the direction of district magistrate Shailesh Kumar. The team submitted its findings on Thursday.
According to the inquiry, the woman was allegedly turned away from the hospital on Monday on the grounds that she was anaemic and that blood could not be arranged. Her family reportedly offered to donate blood, but she was not admitted. She eventually delivered her baby on the roadside on Tuesday night with the assistance of relatives accompanying her.
The inquiry held several medical staff members responsible for negligence, including the chief medical superintendent, a gynaecologist who was on duty on Monday, another gynaecologist and a doctor who was on duty on Tuesday night, as well as the staff nurse on duty.
A medical officer found guilty of negligence in the preliminary inquiry has been dismissed, according to a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Minister's office. The staff nurse on duty has been suspended, while the salary of the gynaecologist on duty has been ordered to be withheld pending further directions.
The health department has also ordered action against the senior gynaecologist and the chief medical superintendent in connection with the alleged negligence.
The inquiry team also uncovered significant administrative failures, noting that the hospital’s labour room was found locked. Furthermore, the report revealed that the CMS and other medical staff attempted to manage the critical case over the telephone rather than visiting the hospital to provide in-person care, reports Hindustan Times.
Deputy CM Pathak said the safety of mothers and newborns and the provision of quality healthcare remain among the government's priorities. He stressed that government hospitals are responsible for ensuring that patients receive timely treatment and necessary medical facilities.
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