- Husband alleged doctors’ negligence on night duty in Gyane ward.
- Principal GMC constitutes a high-level committee to submit report within 12 hours.
- Any doctor having high profile/political links will not be spared, if found involved in negligence: Principal GMC
Shyam Sood
Rajouri, Dec 23: Mother of three siblings-who died due to highly infectious pathogen(s) in Badhaal area of Rajouri district between December 12 & 19- also died in Associated Hospital Government Medical College (AH GMC) Rajouri on Monday in Obstetrics and gynaecology department allegedly due to negligence of doctors.
The death toll in the Badhaal area tragedy rose to 9 between December 7 and 23.
The deceased namely Razeem Akhter (35) had a 5 months pregnancy and the death toll may be considered as 10.
Husband of the deceased Mohd Rafiq alleged that his wife developed urinary retention complication at home on Sunday (December 22) and was treated at Community Health Center at Kandi (Koteranka).
From CHC Kandi she was referred to AH GMC Rajouri for specialised treatment.
“After admission in the Gyane ward she was administered two glucose injections and despite several requests to the doctors on night duty, none of them turned up to check her,” said Mohd Rafiq.
“In the morning doctors started treatment but during treatment she died,” said Mohd Rafiq.
Taking the allegations of doctor’s negligence seriously, Principal GMC Rajouri, Prof. (Dr) A S Bhatia has constituted a high-level committee of senior consultants to inquire the allegations of negligence and asked to submit a report within 12 hours (by 11 pm on Monday) for further action.
“No body will be spared if found responsible in the alleged negligent death of a pregnant woman. The action will come by tomorrow morning positively against those, if found involved in negligence of duty despite whether the doctor is a high profile, having powerful political links or threat of strike by the doctors, said Principal, GMC Rajouri.
The committee was given clear cut directions not to protect or shield any doctor so that the message may be given to others not to commit any negligence in the future.
He added that directions for fair investigation and strict action have also been received from the Deputy Commissioner in this episode.
It is pertinent to mention here that the deceased Razeem Akhter was in AH GMC as an attendant for her one-year-old son Sultan, who was admitted after the deaths of his sister & two brothers, till December 19 and was also treated for her pregnancy.
On December 19, after the death of her son Ishtiaq Ahmed (9 yrs) while on way to Chandigarh hospital, she left GMC for home.
On Sunday (December 22) she developed urinary retention complications and died on Monday at AH GMC Rajouri.
It is also to be noted here that after the Badhaal village tragedy, the health department had constituted a ‘high sensitive group’ to report any untoward/health issues on this group for immediate action.
But the BMO Kandi forgot to upload the referral of the deceased in this group and the AHGMC administration didn’t pay any attention to provide immediate treatment to the deceased.
Reportedly Additional DC, Koteranka has sought an explanation from BMO Kandi for this negligence.
On December 12, three children of Mohd Rafiq-namely Ishtiaq (9), Ishfaq (10) (6), Nazia Akhter (6) developed health complications due to unidentified illness and were admitted in AH GMC along with 1-year-old Sultan (recovered).
Nazia died at home, Ishfaq and Ishtiaq were referred to Children hospital in Jammu from GMC Rajouri
Ishfaq died on his way to Jammu, while Ishtiaq was referred to Chandigarh but died on December 19 before he could reach Chandigarh.
On the directions of Directorate of Health Services Government of India New Delhi, a team of experts from different premier medical institutions, including a team from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) along with Mobile Laboratory Vehicle visited Koteranka to investigate the cases and deaths in Badhaal.
The ICMR team has tested about 60 samples at Koteranka and the report will be submitted to the Government of India, which is still awaited.
