Infant dies in mother’s womb, family alleges medical negligence

BENGALURU: Family members of a pregnant woman alleged that the baby she was carrying died because of the medical negligence of doctors at KC General Hospital at Malleswaram Circle in the city.

Devika from Chokkasandra was nine months and 12 days into her pregnancy and the hospital doctor gave her a date for delivery. But the doctor prepared for a normal delivery and made her wait, though the family members requested to conduct a Cesarean section as she had crossed the date. The doctors later said a normal delivery wouldn’t be possible and agreed to a cesarean section. But then, the doctors said that the child had water in the womb and had died, the family alleged.

The family members then created a ruckus in the hospital and broke down. Also, the hospital had billed them even after infant death. The woman came to the hospital at 10 am on Sunday and made them wait till 7 pm to get admission, the family members said.

A week ago, the doctors said that it would not be a normal delivery and they would have to do a Cesarean section. Again the doctor confused them that it would be a normal delivery on Sunday, they told.

Devika’s family members alleged corruption in the hospital and even tried to gherao the hospital after demanding that the doctor be called. They demanded the suspension of the doctor immediately for the death of the child.

General Medical Officer Dr Mohan K C, responding to the issue, said Dr Vijayalakshmi Vaidye was the consulting doctor and the delivery date supposed to be December 10. “It was decided earlier that Caesarean section was not necessary, but later it was decided to conduct a C-section as normal delivery was not possible. The heartbeat of the child was low and the mother was shifted to the NICU. The doctor said that there was no mistake on her part. But we will definitely take disciplinary action if there is negligence on the part of the doctor. We will investigate internally. After preparing the report, we take up the case sheet and come to a decision”.

The medical officer has promised that a fair investigation will be conducted. A case has been registered against the doctor at Malleswaram police station.