The state medical education department on Saturday took stringent action against healthcare personnel following the death of two women and critical condition of several others after caesarean deliveries at a government hospital in Kota. A preliminary inquiry revealed serious lapses in patient care protocols, leading to the dismissal of one doctor and suspension of three staff members.
Action Taken Against Medical Staff
Assistant professor Dr Shraddha Upadhyay, who was serving on an urgent temporary basis, was dismissed from service. Associate professor and operation theatre in-charge Dr Navneet Kumar was suspended. Senior nursing officer Gurjot Kaur and labour room in-charge Nimesh Verma were suspended and transferred to Jaipur for alleged negligence of duty, failure to follow prescribed medical protocols, and lapses in patient monitoring.
Show-Cause Notices Issued
Show-cause notices were issued to obstetrics and gynaecology unit heads Dr BL Pateedar and Dr Neha Seehra over possible negligence in supervision, treatment monitoring, post-operative surveillance, coordination, and overall medical management.
Sequence of Events
Following the first death and critical condition of five other women on Tuesday, the state government ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident and promised strict action against any guilty officer, doctor, or staff member. A second woman among the five in critical condition died the next day, sparking protests from the patients' families.
Medical education commissioner Babulal Goyal reached Kota on Friday and reviewed the sequence of events. He collected information from doctors, nursing staff, and hospital administrators and assessed treatment arrangements at the hospital.
Departmental Action and Preventive Measures
Principal secretary (Medical Education) Gayatri Rathore stated on Saturday that the preliminary inquiry found serious negligence in medical protocols and procedures, prima facie, prompting immediate departmental action.
The health department directed the hospital administration to carry out a comprehensive review of operation theatre management, anaesthesia protocols, drug distribution system, and post-operative monitoring arrangements. Immediate corrective measures were ordered wherever necessary. Steps were instructed to fix accountability, strengthen supervision, and improve medical quality control systems to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
Instructions were issued to continuously monitor the condition of all expectant mothers admitted to the hospital and ensure the best possible treatment under specialist supervision.
