SONIPAT: A 23-year-old woman died at the District Civil Hospital in Sonipat barely three hours after giving birth to a baby boy through normal delivery, with her family alleging medical negligence on the part of doctors and nursing staff at the hospital.The woman, identified as Reena, a resident of Tanda village, was brought to the hospital by her husband Rahul around 5pm on Monday for delivery. She delivered a baby boy through normal delivery at approximately 7pm. According to her family, Reena was stable after childbirth, but her condition suddenly deteriorated around 10pm, following which she died.The family alleged that when Reena’s condition worsened, they requested hospital authorities to refer her to another hospital and had also arranged an ambulance. However, they claimed they were not allowed to shift her to a private hospital.The family has demanded an impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death and alleged that timely intervention and referral could possibly have saved her life.The allegations, however, have been denied by the hospital administration.Gynaecologist Dr Richa said Reena had undergone a normal delivery and that both the mother and newborn were subsequently shifted to the ward.According to the doctor, Reena was later given bread and tea by her family members while she was lying down. The doctor suspected that a piece of bread may have entered her airway, resulting in breathing difficulty and a sudden deterioration in her condition.Dr Richa said Reena subsequently developed a critical condition involving respiratory distress and bleeding. The medical team immediately initiated efforts to save her life, but despite all possible attempts, her condition continued to deteriorate and she eventually died.The hospital maintained that there was no negligence on the part of the medical team and that the staff made every possible effort to revive and stabilise the patient.Civil Surgeon Dr Alankrita Gera said the hospital had provided treatment to Reena during and after the normal delivery and that all possible efforts were made to save her.She said the exact cause of death could be established only after the postmortem report and a detailed inquiry.Dr Gera said an investigation had been ordered into the matter and would be conducted impartially. She added that if any lapse or negligence was found at any level, strict action would be taken against the person or persons responsible as per the rules.Rai police station SHO Inspector Yashvir said no complaint had been received from the family in connection with Reena’s death so far.“We have not received any complaint in this matter. The postmortem examination has been conducted and the body has been handed over to the family,” the SHO said.He said police had not received any formal complaint alleging negligence by the hospital staff.As of now, no formal police case has been registered in connection with the family’s allegations, police said.Reena’s death has raised questions over the circumstances in which her condition deteriorated shortly after childbirth. While her family has alleged medical negligence and claimed they were not permitted to shift her to another hospital, the hospital administration has attributed the sudden deterioration to an apparent respiratory problem and maintained that the medical team made every possible effort to save her.The allegations made by the family have not been independently verified.The postmortem examination has already been conducted, and the report is expected to provide crucial evidence regarding the actual cause of death. The findings of the hospital’s departmental inquiry will also be important in determining whether there was any medical or procedural lapse.
