Anil Vij seeks report from probe panel within 48 hours

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, May 19

The matter pertaining to the death of a Jind woman and her newborn baby at the local PGIMS has got murkier with the PGIMS administration ordering a probe into the matter, but claiming that the woman was suffering from some liver disorder and other ailments, which led to her death after her premature delivery.

The woman, Neelam, and her newborn baby died at the PGIMS last night amidst an altercation between the woman’s attendants and PGIMS staffers.

A section of the media reported that the woman, who had labour pains last night, was slapped by a womandoctor/nurse, due to which she delivered the baby on the floor, fell down and both of them died thereafter. The PGIMS authorities have refuted the media reports.

Rohtak SP Shashank Anand said the woman’s family members had lodged a police complaint alleging manhandling and negligence against PGIMS staffers last night, but they withdrew it today, indicating a compromise. “Still, we are keeping a close watch on the situation,” the SP said.

The woman’s family members took away her body without getting a post-mortem examination conducted and cremated her, which also raises questions.

Meanwhile, on instructions of Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, a three-member committee was formed to inquire into the matter and submit its report within 48 hours.

PGIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Ashok Chauhan said Neelam, wife of Sunil of Kharak Ramji village in Jind district, was admitted to the PGIMS on May 14 with diagnosis of pregnancy with ascites with anasarca with pleural effusion with jaundice. Her ultrasound and other investigations indicated chronic liver and renal function disease, apart from portal hypertension and hepato renal syndrome.

“She had preterm vaginal delivery of IUD baby at 9.45 p.m. on May 18. The baby was born dead. The woman’s condition deteriorated after the delivery and she could not be saved . However, when the body was being shifted, an altercation broke out between the woman’s attendants and a woman security guard posted there. Following that, the attendants levelled allegations of negligence and manhandling against the PGIMS staff,” the Medical Superintendent maintained.

He said the outsourcing agency had been told to terminate with immediate effect the services of the security guard accused of physical assault . This move on part of the PGIMS administration again raises suspicion.

Haryana Director-General (Medical Education and Research) Pradeep Kasni said the PGIMS administration had informed him that a three-member committee comprising Dr Vijaypal Khanagwal, Dr Praveen Malhotra and Dr Savita Singhal had been formed to probe the matter and it would submit its report within 48 hours.

Meanwhile, talks between the family members and fellow villagers of the woman and the PGIMS authorities continued for the entire day today.