Woman dies after caesarian, kin demand justice

Ongole: A woman died after caesarian surgery in the Government Mother and Child Hospital here on Monday. The relatives of the woman, Dalit Organisations staged a protest in front of the hospital, along with the newborn, and demanded justice. The Ongole RDO promised to provide ex gratia and take action against the hospital staff based on the report by an experts committee.

According to the complaint lodged by Palepogu Yallamanda Rao, a resident of SC Colony in Modepalli village in Addanki mandal, to the District Collector, stating that his wife Palepogu Divya (24) was admitted to the Government Mother and Child Hospital in Ongole on September 1 for the delivery.

A unit of blood was transfused to her on Saturday and another unit on Monday before conducting the caesarian surgery. The doctor announced that the baby boy and mother are safe and shifted them to the ward. But on Monday evening, the mother of Divya observed that her daughter is struggling to breath and informed the on duty nurses and requested to call the doctor. But around 9 pm, the doctor reached the hospital, only to announce that the woman is dead.

On Tuesday morning, the relatives of Divya and leaders from various Dalit Organisations staged a protest in front of the hospital, along with the newborn baby. The Dalit leaders spoke to District Collector V Vinay Chand and explained the incident. In turn, the Collector promised an ex gratia and action against the people responsible for the death and sent Ongole RDO K Srinivas to address the issue.

K Srinivas said, “We constitute a committee with the senior doctors to investigate on the death of Divya. They will find out whether it is a failure of the surgery or negligence of the staff. Based on the report from them, severe action would be initiated against the responsible. In the meantime, the Collector promised an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakhs to the bereaved family and all possible help from the government.”

The in-charge district coordinator of health services and superintendent of the Mother and Child Hospital, Dr Surineni Usha said, “There is a shortage of doctors in the MCH and the doctors are on call duty in the evening time. The committee comprising gynecologist and physician from Markapur hospital submitted its report in sealed covers to the District Collector and Commissioner of Vaidya Vidhana Parishad. The higher officials will initiate action against the responsible persons based on the report.”