Expectant mother dies due to ‘medical negligence’ in Keonjhar DHH; doc refutes allegation

Keonjhar: A pregnant woman of Suakathi village died at the Keonjhar District Headquarters hospital today after being allegedly left unattended by the hospital staff. Deceased Jhunu Munda, was identified as the wife of Jogendra Munda of Suakathi village of Bansapal block here.

While Jogendra blamed the Asha worker and the hospital authorities for the death of his wife, the doctor at the hospital has refuted the medical negligence charges.

According to Jogendra, Jhunu complained of labour pain Monday night following which he called up the Asha worker to help him shift Jhunu to hospital. But the Asha worker refused to arrive, Jogendra alleged.

“I called up the Asha worker but she refused to come and asked me to admit my wife to the hospital. I shifted her to the hospital in an auto-rickshaw,” stated the husband of the deceased.

Jogendra further alleged, “I first rushed her to the delivery room but the doctors there asked me to complete other check-up formalities. She was not provided with iron tablets by the ASHA worker during the pregnancy period. My wife died as she was left unattended by the doctors at the hospital.”

However, the doctors refuted the allegation of any negligence at the hospital.

Dr Ajay Mohanty, posted at the DHH, informed, “The woman was brought dead. The documents she possessed revealed that she was suffering from acute blood deficiency and was also advised blood transfusion at the hospital on November 26. Refusing blood transfusion has resulted in her death.”