CUTTACK: The dust raised over child- swapping row is yet to settle, the SCB Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday found itself mired in yet another controversy. This time the premier hospital is in the dock over alleged death of a woman and her newborn in the labour room of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O & G) department due to negligence. While Health Minister Prasanna Acharya has sought a report on the incident from the hospital authorities, the husband and the family members curiously did not press any complaint against the doctors and the staff. According to reports, Rashmita Sahoo of Balipatana in Jajpur district was brought to the hospital on April 7 by her husband Mahesh Sahoo in a critical condition. She was instantly admitted to the O & G department and subjected to Caesarean section for delivery of the child on Monday night. The baby though was stillborn, the mother was under treatment at the labour room till early on Tuesday when she succumbed. The family members of the woman then alleged that she had fallen from the bed and died along with the baby. The department authorities, however, denied the allegations of neglect stating she was suffering from acute jaundice and severe pre-eclampsia when she arrived. Prompt treatment was given to her and it was decided to conduct the Caesarean section on Monday night. The gap of a day was given to stabilise her for the surgery and also to arrange blood and fresh frozen plasma. On Monday night, the surgery was conducted and as expected the baby was stillborn. But emergency interventions were continued to ensure the mother’s survival. Her vital parameters and condition appeared to stabilise and she was doing well till early in the morning when she again developed convulsions and succumbed, Head of O & G department Prof. Shyama Kanungo said. “There was absolutely no negligence on part of the doctors or staff nor did she fall down. There were other patients and attendants in the labour room who have corroborated that she did not fall. Considering the allegations, we asked the husband and family members to agree for post-mortem and registration of a medico- legal case. But they did not make further complaints and left,” Prof. Kanungo said.ASHA WORKERS DEMO: However, as the department authorities battled the controversy, more trouble brewed with the ASHA workers staging a demonstration alleging high-handedness of the staff and the guards at the department. They also alleged that the staff are extorting money from patients and family members in the name of gifts for birth of a baby. “There have been instances when ASHA workers, who are bringing expectant mothers to the hospital for institutional delivery, are subjected to abuse by security guards on flimsy grounds,” said Mamata Das, general secretary of Odisha State ASHA Karmi Sangha. Senior hospital administrator Col. Srikanta Mohapatra said, “The allegations would be verified and action taken.”
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