MP: Pregnant woman delivers baby at district hospital gate, family alleges medical negligence
Vidisha: A pregnant woman allegedly delivered a premature baby at the main gate of the District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha on Thursday night, with her family accusing hospital staff of failing to provide timely medical attention despite her being admitted several hours earlier.
The newborn has been admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in critical condition. Following the incident, the hospital administration has ordered an inquiry.
According to the family, Sukhvati Bai, a resident of Sahastabad village in Sironj tehsil, was referred from Sironj Hospital and brought to the district hospital around 1 P.M. She was in her seventh month of pregnancy and was suffering from bleeding and high blood pressure, reports IANS.
After being admitted, she was administered medicines and intravenous fluids. Her relatives alleged that despite her condition, she was not properly monitored and they were not informed about her health. They also claimed that attendants were asked to leave the ward.
Around 9.40 P.M., Sukhvati Bai developed severe labour pain. As her family was taking her outside the ward, she delivered the baby at the hospital's main gate.
The family further alleged that no doctor, nurse or midwife reached the spot immediately after the delivery and that the newborn remained unattended for several minutes before being shifted to the NICU.
The incident triggered protests by relatives and other people present at the hospital. Kotwali police station SHO Anand Raj reached the hospital after receiving information about the incident.
“We reached the hospital after getting information about the commotion and brought the situation under control. The hospital administration is conducting an enquiry into the matter. Police will take further action if any complaint requiring legal action is received,” he told IANS on Friday.
District Hospital Civil Surgeon, Dr Anoop Verma, said the woman had been referred from Sironj Hospital and was admitted immediately after arrival.
He said an enquiry had been ordered into the incident. “If the enquiry finds negligence on the part of any doctor, nurse or other staff member, strict action will be taken,” Dr Verma told news reporters.
Leader of Opposition, Umang Singhar, criticised the incident, calling it a serious failure of the state's healthcare system.
He stated that the absence of doctors and nursing staff had put the lives of both the mother and the newborn at risk.
“This incident shows the poor condition of government hospitals. We demand immediate action against those responsible,” Singhar wrote on X.
