A tragic incident of alleged medical negligence has led to the death of an eight-month pregnant woman at Bundi district hospital in Rajasthan, triggering protests and a high-level inquiry. The family, supported by Congress workers, staged a demonstration on the hospital premises, demanding accountability.
Chronology of a Tragedy
The victim, Indira Kanwar (42), wife of Madanlal and a resident of Chontra Ka Kheda in Keshoraipatan, was admitted to Bundi district hospital at 7:30 pm on Saturday. The on-duty gynaecologist, Dr. Amar Singh, diagnosed her with critically low haemoglobin levels of 4.7 gm and immediately recommended a blood transfusion. The family was directed to arrange for the blood.
According to Principal Medical Officer Dr. LN Meena, treatment commenced upon admission, but the family could not procure the required blood until late at night. The transfusion eventually started in the early hours of Sunday. However, around 5 am, Indira Kanwar's condition worsened significantly.
Protest and Political Intervention
The duty doctor, Dr. Mobin Akhtar, informed the family of her critical state and referred her to Jay Kay Lon Hospital in Kota at 6:10 am. Tragically, she passed away during the journey. When the family reached the Kota hospital around 7:30 am, doctors declared she had died approximately three hours earlier.
This discrepancy fueled anger. Congress's Bundi city president, Shailesh Soni, who joined the protest, alleged that the blood transfusion was not administered in time and that the referral to Kota was made even after her death. The protest prompted intervention from Bundi MLA Harimohan Sharma.
High-Level Probe and Immediate Actions
Following the MLA's involvement, the district administration swiftly constituted a high-level committee to investigate potential negligence. The committee is headed by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Bundi and includes the principal of Bundi Government Medical College and the Chief Medical and Health Officer.
As an immediate administrative action, Dr. Mobin Akhtar was placed on APO (Awaiting Posting Orders) and attached to the headquarters in Kota. MLA Harimohan Sharma extended the allegations beyond the immediate incident, claiming the woman suffered negligence throughout her eight-month pregnancy, leading to her severe anaemia.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Laxmikant Meena confirmed the committee's formation, emphasizing a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate death.
