RIMS Imphal forms 4-member panel to investigate woman's death after childbirth

Imphal: Following the death of a 25-year-old woman after childbirth and allegations of medical negligence by her family, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, has constituted a four-member enquiry committee to investigate the incident.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, RIMS expressed profound sorrow over the death of the woman and said a post-mortem examination had been scheduled to determine the cause of death. The inquiry committee is expected to submit its report within three working days, following which appropriate action will be taken based on its findings, the institute said, reports the Daily.

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However, RIMS did not disclose the names or professional backgrounds of the committee members.

The woman, a resident of Keishampat Jailor Leirak, had been admitted to RIMS for the delivery of her first child on Tuesday. She reportedly gave birth to a baby girl at around 11 pm before her death. Her death triggered allegations of medical negligence from her family, who sought an explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Her husband alleged that she suffered heavy bleeding after being brought out of the operation theatre and was subsequently shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He also questioned the decision to proceed with the delivery at night, claiming the family had initially been informed that the delivery could take place the following morning.

According to him, the doctor attending to his wife had advised her admission. “She had initially been advised to undergo a normal delivery but was later taken for an operation after receiving around three bottles of intravenous fluids,” he said. He sought an explanation for the circumstances leading to her death and demanded accountability from the doctors concerned, reports Assam Tribune.

The exact cause of death and whether any lapse in medical care occurred remain to be established through the post-mortem examination and the inquiry.

Meanwhile, security was tightened across the hospital premises on Wednesday morning following a tense situation on Tuesday, when a large crowd reportedly stormed the hospital after the woman’s death.

The situation was largely normal by Wednesday morning, with security personnel deployed at various locations across the hospital campus. RIMS, however, did not specify the extent of the damage to public property.

Condemning the vandalism, the institute said it understood the grief and anguish of the bereaved family but maintained that damage to public property was unacceptable.

RIMS appealed to all concerned to maintain peace, exercise restraint and allow the established procedures to take their course as the enquiry proceeds, reports Assam Tribune.

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