Alleged Medical Negligence: Doctor, nurse transferred after twin babies die at Urigam PHC
Medical Negligence
Krishnagiri: A case of medical negligence has come to light following the intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) of twin babies, prompting the transfer of a doctor and a nurse from the Urigam Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu.
The case involves a 23-year-old pregnant woman from near the Urigam tribal village who delivered twin IUFD babies at the Government Krishnagiri Medical College Hospital (GKMCH). Her husband has alleged that lapses in care at the primary health centre contributed to the fetal deaths, a charge that has been denied by the doctors involved.
According to The New Indian Express, the woman from Muthikarai village in Urigam panchayat had been receiving regular care at the Urigam Primary Health Centre (PHC). The couple, who already have a five-year-old daughter, reported that the woman had earlier been admitted to GKMCH for ten days in January due to pregnancy-related complications.
While explaining the sequence of events, the husband of the woman told The New Indian Express, "Last month, owing to health complications, she took treatment at the GKMCH for 10 days, and a doctor at the GKMCH asked Susheela to come after 10 days with the scan report. On Monday, around 9.30 am, the couple went to Urigam PHC with the scan report, where he allegedly informed them that Susheela needs to undergo a C-section, but since the doctor was unavailable on Monday, she was asked to come on Tuesday."
He further stated, "On Tuesday, around 10 am, the couple went to Urigam PHC, and they were referred to GKMCH. Before getting into the ambulance, both babies had a fetal heart rate, but when they reached GKMCH, health staff declared the babies dead. On Tuesday evening, after surgery, the twin IUFD babies were delivered, and Susheela is currently under treatment."
Responding to the allegations, GKMCH Superintendent Dr Chandrasekar told The Daily, "There is no negligence from the GKMCH. When they arrived here, the babies did not have a fetal heart rate. They could have died on the way. Without conducting a postmortem, we cannot say when the babies died."
Similarly, Urigam PHC medical officer denied the allegations and stated, “On Monday, I went through Susheela's scan report and directed them to meet an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Though the scan report was normal, the mother was at high risk. I asked Susheela to visit the Urigam PHC again on Tuesday, but in the referral letter on Monday itself, I explained about the health issue to Susheela. We have been tracking her, even when she visited her relatives' place in another hill village, Doddamanju."
Following the allegations, the district health administration constituted a special inquiry team comprising the District Maternal and Child Health Officer, a district paediatrician, and an obstetrician and gynaecologist. After conducting an enquiry, the team submitted its report to Krishnagiri District Collector C Dinesh Kumar.
Based on the administrative review, the Urigam PHC medical officer was transferred to Hosur block, while the staff nurse was transferred to Uthangarai block.
Krishnagiri District Health Officer Dr G Ramesh Kumar confirmed that the enquiry report had been forwarded to the collector. Deputy Director of Family Welfare Dr Bharathi later highlighted procedural concerns, including the failure to check fetal heart rate (FHR) at the PHC before referral, inaccurate documentation in the referral letter, and reliance on a private scan report. She noted that medical assessment suggested fetal demise had occurred several hours before the declaration at GKMCH and stated that further enquiry would also be conducted at the private scan centre.
Death declaration of the babies came around 1.15 pm on Tuesday, but eight hours before that babies were already dead in the womb, Dr G Ramesh Kumar further stated.
Collector C Dinesh Kumar said that a broader investigation involving the medical college, family welfare department, ‘108’ ambulance services, and the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine would be carried out to determine the exact cause of death and fix responsibility.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) criticised the handling of the case and demanded that postmortem procedures be conducted without delay.
