‘Just another day’: Pregnant woman’s death sparks outrage over alleged medical negligence at Anantnag hospital

Anantnag, April 18: A woman died of alleged medical negligence at Maternity and Child Care Hospital in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

The family of the deceased woman, speaking to The Kashmiriyat, said that Naza Akhtar, a resident of Khanabal area in Anantnag, died due to medical negligence at the hospital.

The patient had been admitted to the hospital two days ago, as per the family members. “We had suggested that the patient must undergo cesarean delivery, but the on-duty doctor said that she would have a normal delivery,” the family member said.

He said that around 12 noon, the doctors who had kept telling us that she would have a normal delivery took her to the delivery room and conducted a cesarean on her. “She was experiencing a lot of abnormal pain. The doctors told us that it was something to do with her stomach and she would be fine,” said the family member.

The family members said that they appealed to them to shift her to Srinagar; however, the officials said that it was a minor issue. “The doctors, whom we called from nearby GMC Anantnag, had recommended that a USG be performed on her; however, there is no facility for USG available at night,” said the patient’s relative.

During the dark of the night, the family took the patient to GMC Anantnag where an ultrasound was conducted on her. “The ultrasound was normal, and moments after the USG, she passed away,” he told The Kashmiriyat.

Decrying the poor infrastructure of the hospital locals said, “From the past thirty years, the hospital has undergone no changes, the facilities seem to have hardly been upgraded,” said a local.

“They do not release the newborns until you give them ‘gift money’ of 1000 or 1500 rupees. What kind of justice is this? Why do poor people have to die? Why do they get away with these cases every time?” he asked.

The locals appealed to the LG administration and DC Anantnag to take action against the officials.

The statement of the hospital is awaited as of yet.

Pertinently, this is not the first case of medical negligence to have happened at the hospital. Such cases of alleged medical negligence are often followed by drafting of an investigation committee. The reports of these committees are never made public.

Most of the times, however, the health professionals get away until another case of medical negligence is reported, the issue vanishes in thin air. (The Kashmiriyat)