22-year-old pregnant woman carrying dead foetus dies after being denied treatment in Chhattisgarh

In an appalling incident, a 22-year-old pregnant woman, carrying a dead foetus, died of infection in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district allegedly after doctors at various private hospitals denied to attend her as she was unable to pay their fees. As the issue came into light, Korba district Collector P Dayanand constituted three-member team to probe the incident.

The woman identified as Saraswati Mahant died on Monday night at a private hospital here at Rajgamar road, the Collector said. A native of Podibahar village under Rampur police station, Gulabdas Mahant had taken his wife Saraswati to Jamunadevi Memorial Maternity private hospital on Monday following she complained of severe pain in her stomach.

 The woman was told at the hospital during a scan that her eight-month old foetus had died. “Doctors at Jamunadevi hospital advised to get the foetus removed and asked for a fees of Rs 10,000.

Besides they also asked to arrange blood for my wife,” Gulabdas said. “Doctors stopped her treatment when I told them that I am arranging money. Even after my request they refused to treat her,” he said holding the doctor responsible for the death of his wife.

According to Gulabdas, he later took her wife to atleast three private hospitals in the area but nowhere doctors agreed to operate upon the lady. Finally at Srishti Medical Institute hospital, doctors said that they would operate on the woman next day but she died at around 11:30 on Monday night.

As the issue was raised by local media, Collector P Dayanand ordered a probe into it. A three-member team headed by Additional Collector Heena Netam has been formed to investigate the incident, the Collector said.

Korba Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr P S Sisodia and District Family Welfare and Health Officer Dr B P Kurre are other members of the enquiry squad. Stringent action would be taken against anyone found guilty after the probe,?the Collector added.