Young woman dies after childbirth at private hospital in Odisha, family claims medical negligence

Tension prevailed in Jajpur district on Tuesday after the death of a young woman following childbirth, allegedly due to medical negligence at a private hospital. Angry family members and locals staged a protest by placing her body in front of the health facility near Jajpur Medical Chhak, demanding its immediate closure and adequate compensation.

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According to sources, Sasmita Gedi from Jajpur Khandara area was admitted to the private hospital on December 24 for delivery. During the treatment, her condition had reportedly deteriorated, following which the hospital authorities shifted her to SCB Hospital in Cuttack for advanced care. However, she died on Monday night while undergoing treatment.

The family has alleged that surgical errors during an operation at the private hospital led to her death.

Sources further revealed that another woman from the Bari-Ratnagiri area, who was admitted to the same private hospital for delivery on the 24th, also died after giving birth to a baby boy. This has intensified allegations of serious lapses in medical care.

Following the incident, hospital authorities allegedly locked the premises and fled.

Police reached the spot and have begun an investigation into the accusation. However, no response has been received so far from either the hospital authorities or the police.

“The hospital authorities had told us that it was already time for childbirth, and we must go for a caesarean operation. The surgical operation was conducted on her on Wednesday morning,” deceased’s mother-in-law, Manjulata Gedi, alleged.

“After the caesarean operation, she had profuse bleeding. Our daughter-in-law writhed in pain, but the doctors in the health facility did not respond to our calls. Later, they asked us to shift the patient to SCB Hospital. At last, she died,” the elderly woman added.