Mangaluru: A meeting was held at the DC office here on July 21 to discuss as to how to prevent maternal as well as infant deaths in the future.

Speaking to reporters, DC AB Ibrahim said that we have called for an immediate meeting due to the fact that in the last three months 7 cases have taken place, 2 cases in government hospitals and other 4 cases in private hospitals.

Taking doctors and other concerned officers to task, DC said that there is clear cut negligence on their part. “There should be a protocol if there isn’t a proper facility in a private hospital whether it is Adarsh hospital, Dhanvanthari or Padmavathi hospital, if they are aware of the complications, they must refer the patient party to the higher centers or hospitals to avoid deaths. Doctors must not take risks or chances when they are not sure of the treatment”, he said.

In the Tousiya death case, even though the patient had complications they were not convinced to take an ambulance and take them to hospital. “The patient was taken in a private vehicle and because of the negligence both from hospital as well as patient party, the patient is dead. Even though BP was high the patient was not admitted. Patient party said that, had the doctors and hospital staff had strictly told the patient to be admitted she would have been saved. Why was the DHO or DMO not referred in such a critical case? Why such negligence?” DC questioned the Ladygoshen superintendent Dr Shakunthala.

The patient party said that no doctor or staff from Ladygoshen hospital accompanied the patient when they were sent to AJ Hospital for further treatment. Why such carelessness? DC asked the superintendent to clarify as to when Wenlock hospital was nearby why the patient was referred to AJ Hospital.

Another death case of Ameena Surathkal:

The patient was initially taken to Misquith hospital in Surathkal after excessive bleeding. So the doctor reffered them to Padmavathi hospital. The patient was declared dead after the delivery due to bleeding. The infant is safe and it is being taken care of by the Bala Sanjeevani government hospital. The patient’s brother said that when she was taken in an ambulance, no doctor nor staff accompanied the patient despite the seriousness of the patient. There was not oxygen cylinder in the ambulance. After the delivery, it was told to them that she had a normal delivery but it was a cesarean. However he appreciated the service provided by the Government hospital and said that they are better when compared to private ones.

The doctor who conducted the delivery, Dr Caroline Vas, informed at the meeting that the patient party was not ready for a cesarean as she had normal deliveries earlier. Also she said that in her 37 years of service this is the first case in which her patient lost her life and it was accidental. The DC asked the doctor why she did not refer the patient to another higher hospital when the condition of the patient was critical.

The DC answering all the cases said that it is clear that in all the cases the service provided by hospitals was poor and that it is confirmed after listening to patient parties. “Doctors must tell the patient party about the seriousness if they are aware about it”, he said and added that they should form a four member committee within a month and conduct a special enquiry into all the cases and also give the report to the patient party. “One case which took place in Adarsh hospital which is in Udupi district will be asked to be verified by the Udupi health officer and district administration and appropriate action will be taken”, he said.

He also assured to help the infants and promised financial aid for their education as well as future. DC also listened to the grievances of the patient parties present at the meeting. Doctors of the health department, ZP CEO Srividya, Lady Goschen hospital superintendent Dr Shakunthala were present.

Family representatives in relation to the death cases of Varsha Katapady, Maimuna, Misriya, Poovakka Sullia and Jabeena Begum were also were present.