A 23-year-old woman delivered a baby in a public toilet at a bus stand in Bhikangaon town of Khargone district on Wednesday, after leaving the district hospital where she had been admitted for treatment.
Incident Details
Bhikangaon block medical officer Dr Vijay Verma told TOI, “As soon as we received information on Wednesday morning that a woman had delivered a baby inside a public toilet at the bus stand, an ambulance and medical staff were immediately rushed to the spot.”
The woman, identified as Anita, a resident of Ted village in Jhirniya block, was undergoing her second delivery. Her husband, Amar Singh, had admitted her to the district hospital in Khargone on Tuesday. However, for reasons yet to be ascertained, the family decided to return home instead of continuing treatment at the hospital.
Medical Response
Dr Verma said both the mother and newborn were provided primary medical care before being shifted by the same ambulance to the district hospital in Khargone, located about 40 kilometres away. He said the woman delivered a baby boy weighing 1.8 kg.
Background of the Case
District health officer Dr Chandrajeet Sanwale told TOI, “The woman was a pre-term pregnancy case of around 32 weeks and had been admitted to the district hospital on Tuesday. Gynaecologist Dr Sharda Kanas had counselled the family and informed them that owing to jaundice and other medical complications, the patient might need referral to Indore for advanced treatment.”
According to the DHO, no referral letter had been issued at that stage as the gynaecologist had proceeded to attend another surgery after the counselling. He said that the family left the hospital on Wednesday morning without informing the medical staff.
“If referral to Indore had become necessary, the patient would have been transported by an ambulance arranged by the district hospital. It appears that the family may have become anxious and decided to return home on their own,” Dr Sanwale said.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by rural families in accessing healthcare and the importance of proper communication between medical staff and patients. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the family leaving the hospital prematurely.
