The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) has demanded a detailed inquiry report from the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Jabalpur after a 26-year-old woman allegedly became pregnant and gave birth to her third child despite undergoing sterilisation surgery at a government hospital.
The commission took cognisance of media reports and the woman's complaint. The principal bench, chaired by Dr Awadhesh Pratap Singh, directed the CMHO to conduct an investigation and submit a report within two weeks, according to Farzana Mirza, in-charge of the regional office.
According to officials, the woman resides in Durga Colony, Bargi Hills area of Jabalpur. She had undergone a sterilisation procedure at the government-run Victoria Hospital after the birth of her second child. However, she later suspected pregnancy and visited the Tilwara health centre and the medical college hospital for examination and sonography. Medical tests confirmed she was already more than seven months pregnant when detected.
With little scope for medical termination, she subsequently gave birth to her third child. The woman, a daily-wage labourer, has alleged negligence on the part of doctors and demanded action against those responsible, as well as compensation. She stated she had raised the issue during a public hearing but claimed no action was taken on her complaint.
The case has once again highlighted concerns over the quality of sterilisation procedures and the lack of adequate post-operative monitoring in government healthcare facilities in the state.
