Family Claims Medical Negligence Cost the Life of Pregnant Woman and Newborn Baby

The three-member team of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Haryana, India has forwarded its report to the Director General of Police to be included in the investigations in the case of the death of a woman and her newbornimmediately after delivery.

Neelam, a resident of Jind village, and her newborn child had died at PGIMS. Neelam's kin suspect that the doctor on duty had slapped her and alleged that medical negligence had led to death of Neelam and her newborn baby boy.

The four-page report is inconclusive about the cause of her death and any negligence shown by the medical staff Except for admitting that a woman from the security staff had slapped the victim Neelam Rani's mother.

The report revealed that doctors never pressed for the autopsy of the deceased even as their attendants had been crying foul. PGIMS authorities had apparently handed over the bodies of the woman and her baby boy without conducting autopsy.

Haryana health minister Anil Vij visited victim Neelam's family in her village and announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh from his discretionary fund as financial assistance for her husband Sunil Kumar, who is a daily wager.

"Since report was totally inconclusive, we have forwarded the same to police to include it as part of the investigations. This is the issue of a poor and a common man. Secondly, this is the case of alleged medical negligence and assault of patients by medical staff. Rohtak superintendent of police is monitoring the investigations. At the same time we have asked the doctors to resume their duties and cooperate with investigations," Vij said.

Source: Medindia