Navi Mumbai: The family of a 23-year-old pregnant woman has alleged negligence at NMMC’s Rajmata Jijau Hospital, Airoli, after she and her unborn child died due to complications she developed after getting a standard pre-delivery injection on July 1.Sonam Dongre, who was eight months pregnant, wasn’t the only critical case at the Airoli hospital on that day. Another eight-month pregnant woman, Richa Mishra, was administered two pre-delivery injections before becoming so critical that she was shifted to Fortis Hospital, Vashi, for ventilatory support.Due to separate sit-in protests by MNS, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena in the cabin of NMMC commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde, the NMMC on Thursday announced that the gynaecologist at its Airoli hospital has been suspended and an inquiry, including doctors from state-run JJ Hospital, has been instituted. Mishra’s condition has, meanwhile, improved.Sonam’s husband, Karan Dongre, told reporters that the Airoli hospital staff’s negligence resulted in the death of his wife and unborn child. He alleged that the on-duty doctors and nursing staff kept his wife at the Airoli hospital for three hours despite her worsening health after the injection. He was kept in the dark about the developments till they transferred her to the NMMC Hospital in Vashi on Wednesday, where she died during further treatment.Dr Rajesh Mhatre, medical officer of health (MOH) at NMMC, said, “Patient Sonam Dongre went to NMMC’s hospital in Airoli on June 30 after she developed cramps in the eighth month of her pregnancy. She was admitted for pre-mature delivery .”Around 3 pm on July 1, Dr Mhatre said, Sonam was administered a dexamethasone (steroid) injection to aid the baby’s lung development and reduce the risk of breathing problems if born prematurely. “But soon thereafter, her health deteriorated and she fell unconscious. The doctors continued to treat her and, as she was becoming critical, around 5.40 pm, she was admitted at NMMC hospital, Vashi ,” he said. However, she did not respond to medication and was declared dead around 6.15 pm.The second pregnant patient, Richa Mishra, was also administered injections of dexamethasone as well as duvadilan (to prevent premature labour by relaxing uterine muscles). “Mishra’s condition is stable and off the ventilator. She is responding correctly to orientation of time, place and person,” added Dr Mhatre.NMMC commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde announced a high-level inquiry committee under the chairmanship of the Thane district surgeon to investigate the cases. “The committee includes JJ Hospital’s department head, members of the Navi Mumbai Gynecology and Obstetrics Society, and NMMC’s medical officer of health ,” he said.“The inquiry committee will require at least 15 days to complete the investigation procedure,” Shinde added.The use of both injections administered to the two pregnant women has been stopped immediately and the entire batch of the procured injections have been sealed and their samples sent to the Food and Drug Administration, Thane.The gynaecologist at the Airoli hospital, Dr Bhawana Pagare, was suspended by the civic chief Shinde with immediate effect for “neglect” from July 2 till the inquiry committee’s report. “She is suspended till the inquiry committee submits its report and the commissioner issues further orders ,” said an NMMC official.
