'Jailed pregnant woman who died had high BP'

BHUBANESWAR: Sulabati Naik, 32, the jailed woman who died after childbirth in Rayagada district on Friday had extreme high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia), her medical records revealed, even as health experts said that she might not have received adequate medical attention during her stay in jail.
Expert gynaecologists said in such a condition, a quick decision should be taken to take out the baby early to save both mother and child. Since she was in jail from December 26 to January 10, doctors there should have taken a call to monitor her blood pressure constantly and arrange for delivery to relieve her of the consequences of hypertension.
"Some pregnant women have pre-eclampsia between 20 and 24 weeks of gestation. Blood pressure monitoring and management is essential in such condition. In case of Sulabati, it has been found that she had pre-eclampsia leading to ventricular hypertrophy," said chief district medical officer (Rayagada) Dr Lalmohan Routray.
Sulabati, a resident of Andrakanch village in Rayagada district was among 13 women arrested under section 307 of IPC for demanding jobs in a private company as the villagers reside close to the company's plant. The company had lodged a complaint against these women. She was released on bail on Tuesday and soon developed pain, following which she was shifted to district headquarters hospital, Rayagada.
Although she was bailed out and developed labour pain, pre-eclampsia condition proved to be fatal. Information obtained from prison authorities revealed that on December 27, her blood pressure was measured in the jail by the doctor and it was found to be 150/100. The doctors seeing her pregnant, prescribed iron, calcium and oral tablets for blood pressure (amlodipine 2.5 mg).
As per jail record, on January 10, she had been taken to a health facility outside the prison to consult a gynaecologist. The doctor conducted an ultrasound. The blood pressure there was found to be under permissible limits. The doctor gave January 20 as expected for delivery.