Suspension of Doctor Following Newborn’s Death Sparks Protests
Incident Overview
Thiruvananthapuram: A doctor from the gynaecology department at the district hospital in Nedumangad has been suspended pending an inquiry. This decision follows allegations regarding the death of a newborn after a C-section delivery. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, led to widespread protests at the hospital, with the family accusing the doctor of medical negligence. Various political groups also joined in, demanding stringent action against the medical professional.
Official Response and Inquiry
According to a recent PTI report, the government has taken disciplinary action in light of the allegations of medical negligence and bribery related to the newborn’s death. The doctor has been suspended immediately, pending a detailed inquiry and disciplinary proceedings. Earlier in the day, State Health Minister Veena George ordered the doctor’s transfer from Nedumangad Hospital and mandated the formation of an expert panel to investigate the child’s death thoroughly.
An official statement indicated that a team of specialized doctors from SAT Hospital has been assigned to conduct the inquiry. This team includes experts from the fields of paediatrics, gynaecology, and anaesthesiology, and they have been instructed to submit their report to the government by Wednesday.
Protests and Allegations
Since Tuesday evening, the Nedumangad hospital has been a site of intense protests, fueled by various political parties and local residents following the newborn’s death post-C-section. The family of the deceased child has alleged that the doctor’s negligence was responsible for the tragedy and claimed they had previously paid bribes to the doctor before the delivery.
The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has called for strict legal action against those who allegedly attacked doctors and caused unrest at the district hospital. In a statement, the KGMOA expressed that while the newborn’s death is “deeply painful and unfortunate,” they condemned the violence and “mob trial” directed at the hospital superintendent and the District Medical Officer.
Call for Legal and Structural Reforms
The KGMOA described the incident as “unacceptable in a democratic society” and declared February 18 as a protest day in the capital district. They emphasized that healthcare workers are dedicated to providing quality treatment despite facing severe manpower shortages and limited infrastructure. The association criticized the portrayal of doctors as criminals for medical complications that can arise during treatment, deeming public humiliation as unacceptable.
They also urged the implementation of stringent legal measures under the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act against those who have contributed to the unrest and violence at the hospital. Furthermore, the KGMOA called for the establishment of an expert committee to conduct a prompt, transparent, and impartial examination of the incident, asserting that any actions taken against doctors based solely on allegations would be unjustified. The association warned that any hasty decisions made under external pressure could compel them to initiate robust protests.
Police Investigation
In response to the incident, police registered a case of unnatural death under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) concerning the newborn’s passing at the state-run hospital. The family has claimed they were informed that a C-section would be performed if the baby was not delivered by noon, alleging that the procedure was unduly delayed. “Had they performed the caesarean earlier, the baby would have survived,” relatives stated to reporters.
Protests have also been organized outside the hospital by activists from the Congress, BJP, and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), all demanding accountability from the involved doctor.