Five maternal deaths since 2021: Trichy hospital faces one-month suspension

Trichy: Noting that around five maternal deaths have occurred since 2021, the district administration has temporarily barred a private hospital in Puthur, Trichy, from admitting patients for one month. The action was taken amid scrutiny over repeated maternal deaths and alleged lapses in treatment.

Over the past five years, the hospital witnessed a series of maternal deaths. There have been five maternal deaths since 2021, two in 2025, one in 2024, and two in 2021.

TOI reported that the hospital was issued a show-cause notice on December 19. However, in the first week of January, after receiving the hospital's explanation, the district administration imposed a temporary suspension on inpatient admissions.

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The latest incident involved the death of a 30-year-old woman, Jayarani, in November, following which her family staged protests alleging medical negligence. Based on the allegation, District Collector V. Saravanan ordered an inquiry committee headed by Rajalakshmi R, special DRO (LA), highways, and included Dr Edwina Vasantha, HOD of surgery, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH), and Dr Thangathai, HOD of obstetrics and gynaecology, MGMGH.

The committee investigated all the deaths and found several lapses, including a lack of early recognition and diagnosis of complications, inappropriate management, poor decision-making at crucial stages, absence of infrastructure to manage high-risk pregnancies, non-availability of an ICU with ventilator support, and the absence of round-the-clock qualified doctors.

The report stated, "Though repeated instructions were issued to the institution since 2021 to adhere to govt protocols regarding management of high-risk pregnancies, ART treatments, asepsis, and upgradation of infrastructure facilities, the institution failed to take necessary steps. This is evident in multiple cases."

Based on the report, the district administration took action and temporarily barred the hospital from admitting patients for one month. Joint Director of Health Services (JDHS) GC Gopinatha confirmed this on Sunday.

A senior official told TOI, "They have been directed to conduct continuous medical education programmes for doctors and staff and comply with the recommendations made by the inquiry committee. Five deaths cannot be taken lightly, and the frequency with which they occurred points to something unusual."

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