Woman dies after childbirth in Anantnag, family cries negligence

Anantnag, Dec 8: The death of a 24-year-old woman two days after giving birth to a baby boy at the Maternity and Child Care Hospital (MCCH) Anantnag triggered protests on Monday, with her family alleging medical negligence. The government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

The deceased, Khushboo Jan of Nathpora Khanabal, had undergone a caesarean section on Saturday. Her husband, Zubair Ahmad Bhat, said she was shifted to the ward following surgery, where she soon began complaining of dizziness, and her condition started deteriorating.

“We informed the doctors, and she was given a drip, but her condition kept worsening,” Bhat said. According to the family, doctors later shifted her back to the operating theatre, informing them she had internal bleeding and required the removal of her uterus.

After the second surgery, she was referred to GMC Anantnag for ventilation, where she died around 2 a.m. Monday. The family alleged she should have been referred to Srinagar earlier, claiming a delay in treatment proved fatal.

Following her death, protests erupted at the hospital and later in her native village, with residents demanding strict action. Khushboo is survived by her two-and-a-half-year-old son.

In response, the Health and Medical Education Department has ordered a high-level probe.

As per a government order issued by the Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah appointed Prof. Dr Iffat Hassan Shah, principal of GMC Srinagar, as inquiry officer. She has been instructed to conduct a detailed investigation and submit a comprehensive report with recommendations within 14 days.

Dr Mushtaq Ahmad, medical superintendent of MCCH, Anantnag, has been directed to assist in the inquiry. Copies of the order have been forwarded to senior government officials, including the offices of the chief minister, Lieutenant Governor and Ministry of Home Affairs. The order states that further action will be taken based on the findings.

Dr Mushtaq said an internal inquiry committee has also been constituted and will submit its report within the stipulated timeframe.

“Responsibility will be fixed after completion of the inquiry,” he said.

Preliminary findings reviewed by the hospital indicate that the decision for repeat surgery was taken with the consent of the patient’s attendants. The initial assessment states she developed postpartum haemorrhage on Sunday morning, after which her vitals deteriorated. She was taken for surgery, shifted to intensive care, but suffered a cardiac arrest approximately 16 hours later.