The Race Course police in Coimbatore have initiated an investigation into a suspected death case following the demise of a 32-year-old woman at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The woman, Sangeetha, passed away on Tuesday night in the hospital's ICU, several days after undergoing a cesarean section to remove a dead fetus.
Allegations of Negligence and Family's Grief
Relatives of the deceased have strongly alleged that medical negligence led to her tragic death. More than thirty people, including family members and neighbours, submitted a petition to the district administration demanding government compensation for the loss. Sangeetha, a resident of Puliyakulam and a mother of two boys, had become pregnant despite undergoing a family planning surgery back in 2016.
Gunasekaran, a relative, made serious accusations against the hospital. He claimed that the surgery was conducted by trainee doctors and nurses instead of expert medical professionals. "She had three cuts on her body, one on the abdomen, one on the chest and one near the throat," he stated. He further alleged that Sangeetha underwent three surgeries without clear communication from doctors about the complications. The family also reported that faecal matter was leaking from the stitches on her stomach and that the hospital administration threatened her husband and mother-in-law when they requested to shift her to a private facility.
Hospital's Defense: A Rare and Complicated Case
CMCH dean, Dr. M. Geethanjali, has categorically denied all allegations of negligence. Explaining the medical complexities, she told TOI that the patient was admitted with uncontrolled hypertension that persisted despite medication. "To save the mother, we had to compromise on the fetus," Dr. Geethanjali said. She highlighted that the fetus, which should have weighed around 800 grams, was only 300 grams, indicating a poor uterine condition.
The dean detailed the surgical challenges, noting abdominal adhesions from two previous C-sections. On December 27th, doctors noticed a small amount of faecal matter on the stitches and changed the plasters. Suspecting a hole in the small intestine, they took her for a corrective procedure. However, her condition was severely complicated by dropping blood pressure and her obese body condition. "This is one of the rarest and complicated cases we have handled; but we strongly deny any chance of negligence," she asserted.
Sequence of Events and Postmortem Dispute
Sangeetha was undergoing routine check-ups at CMCH during her pregnancy. On December 22nd, during a regular check-up at six months pregnant, she was admitted due to complications. The dead fetus was removed via C-section on December 24th.
A point of contention arose regarding the postmortem. Dr. Geethanjali stated that the family initially denied a postmortem but later demanded one after filing a police case. "The body is kept in the mortuary and will not be handed over until a postmortem is performed," she clarified, adding that this was initially recommended by the hospital team itself. The police case has been registered, and the investigation is ongoing as the community seeks answers and accountability.
