Pregnant Woman Dies After Delivery performed by Nurses in Doctor's Absence
Thoothukudi: A 30-year-old pregnant woman passed away during labor following a referral from Pudukkottai Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) to Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). This incident has sparked widespread protests and raised serious concerns over medical negligence.
According to the news reports, the 30-year-old woman had arrived at Pudukottai PHC around 7 a.m. on Saturday, seeking medical attention for her second pregnancy. After nearly three hours of labor, the medical staff at the PHC referred her to Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) for further treatment, citing a lack of cervical dilation. However, upon arrival at the government hospital, doctors in the obstetrics and gynecology department declared her dead.
Following this, the woman’s family members staged a protest, demanding an inquiry into the care she received at the Pudukottai PHC. They alleged that there was a serious absence of doctors and that the nurses at the PHC failed to provide adequate care during her labor.
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Speaking to The Hindu, Thoothukudi Deputy Director (Health) Yazhini denied the allegations of the doctor’s absence. She clarified that a doctor was present at the PHC when Zaheera was admitted, stating that Zaheera had a tough labor. While she had been receiving treatment at a PHC in Dindigul district, she had started treatment at Pudukottai PHC only two months ago.
Yazhini further explained that around 8:30 a.m., the amniotic membrane ruptured, but there was no progress in the labor. Due to the lack of cervical dilation, an ambulance was immediately called, and the woman was transferred to Thoothukudi GMCH around 10:15 a.m. At the time of departure, her vital signs, including heart rate and blood pressure, were reportedly stable. She also mentioned that the cause of death could be due to various factors, such as amniotic fluid embolism, though the exact cause would be confirmed only after the post-mortem report is available.
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According to the news reports, the district administration stated that the woman's condition had been thoroughly assessed by a doctor and two nurses at the PHC. Due to the delay in cervical dilation, the necessary referral was made to Thoothukudi GMCH. Additionally, the administration confirmed that five new doctors had been assigned to the Pudukottai PHC, refuting claims that the woman’s death was caused by the unavailability of medical staff.
Despite these clarifications, the woman's family and relatives persist in demanding justice. They continued to insist that negligence by the medical staff contributed to her untimely death. A thorough investigation is underway to establish whether medical negligence was a factor in this tragic incident.
