Sharmili Mallick

Rourkela: Tension prevailed at Rourkela government hospital after a woman and her unborn child died due to alleged negligence of doctors in the government hospital here on late Friday night.

The nine-month pregnant Bhama Kisan was brought to the government hospital at around 11 pm on Friday after she complained of labour pain and later, after preliminary medical check up, she was admitted to the hospital. However, the family members of Bhama alleged that no doctor came to attend her.

"A doctor was sleeping inside his cabin but he did not attend her. After waiting for hours, when no doctor turned up, we started searching for doctors. Later, by the time a doctor attended Bhama, she and her unborn child were already dead, said a family member.

"Had she (Bhama) been attended by a doctor on time, my wife and the unborn child would have been saved. If the hospital authorities would have informed me beforehand related to the unavailability of doctors, I would have taken my wife to another hospital for treatment," said the deceased's husband, Harischandra.

Soon after the incident, alleging medical negligence, the family members along with some locals created ruckus in the hospital and demanded action against the doctors present at the hospital when Bhama died.

"An internal investigation will be carried out and the CDMO will be apprised about the incident in detail. If required, new doctors will be posted in the hospital," said a senior doctor of the government hospital.
He also assured that if any dereliction of duty on the part of the doctors is found, appropriate and stern action will be taken against them.

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