Bihar: Denied medical help, baby dies in womb

Sheezan Nezami | TNN | Updated: May 5, 2020, 06:49 IST

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PATNA: Gulshan Khatoon (22), lost her first child after she was allegedly denied institutional delivery in two government hospitals of Buxar district. By the time she was provided medical aid in a private hospital, the baby died in her womb.
A resident of Kazipur village in Simri block of Buxar district, Gulshan was first taken to Simri primary health centre on April 29 after she experienced labour pain. She had especially come to her parent’s house for the birth of her first child some six months back from Bhagalpur.
With male members of the family being stuck in various places outside the state because of the lockdown, she was accompanied by her mother and aunt to the PHC. Family members said they reached Simri PHC around 3am, but the nurse on duty did not even touch her for the fear of being infected with corona. Gulshan’s aunt Saliman Khatoon, who had accompanied her to the PHC said, “As soon as the nurse came know our religion, she nurse asked us to stay away from her saying we will spread corona. We kept pleading, but she did not attend to our patient. After a fervent plea, she referred us to Buxar sadar hospital.”
After waiting for two hours at the PHC for ambulance, Gulshan was taken to sadar hospital some 30 km away in a private vehicle by paying Rs 2,000. “After we reached the sadar hospital, a doctor asked us to first get some tests done, which included ultrasonography. As there was no facility of ultrasound at the sadar hospital, we were asked to get it done at a private centre. We were even made to run from one counter to another. Buxar was a new place for us and when we could not get the ultrasound facility, the doctor denied to take my daughter’s case, ” said the grieving mother.
Gulshan was then taken to a private hospital in Kerat, some 30 km from Buxar. However, due to the delay, she delivered a stillborn baby. “The child weighed 2.5kg and was beautiful. After losing her child, Gulshan has slipped into depression. Her husband is stranded in Hyderabad,” Saliman said.
Buxar civil surgeon Dr Usha Kiran Verma said a three-member team has been formed to probe into this matter. “I got a call from Buxar DM to investigate the matter. We have formed a committee which will go to Simri PHC on Tuesday. We will also get in touch with the family and talk to them,” said Dr Verma.