Birhor woman loses newborn as hosp refuses admission, probe on

Hazaribag: Deputy commissioner Bhuvanesh Pratap Singh on Wednesday ordered an inquiry against the management of Hazaribag Medical College and Hospital (HMCH) after it surfaced that a pregnant woman from the Birhor community was turned away citing shortage of her blood type unit.
Rinki Devi (25), a resident of Khamva panchayat under Tatijharia block, was brought to the HMCH from Bishungarh community health centre on Tuesday in a critical condition. However, the gynaecology department at HMCH referred her to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) in Ranchi citing shortage of AB+ units as Rinki needed to undergo a C-section.
Her husband Kartik Birhor alleged that while on their way to the state capital, she delivered a girl child. However, upon arrival at Rims, the doctors there refused to admit the mother and the new born stating that the latter was brought dead, Kartik claimed.
Rinki was brought her home in a critical condition in a hired ambulance, whose expense was borne by the village head.
On contact, HMCH superintendent Dr Sanjay Sinha said, “The patient’s haemoglobin was low and she needed transfusion. Since there was no AB+ unit with the blood bank of Red Cross Society, she was referred to Rims.”
The DC said, “A probe has been initiated to ascertain why HMCH did not ask Red Cross society to scout from its registered donors for the blood type. This is a lapse by the doctors at HMCH and their explanation has been sought.”