Young mother battles for life, kin allege medical negligence

A family from Sector 26 here has accused doctors at the Civil Hospital, Manimajra, of grave medical negligence following a caesarean delivery that has allegedly left a young mother battling for her life.

According to a complaint addressed to UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma, the patient, Soniya, was admitted to the hospital on August 1 for delivery. Doctors reportedly informed the family that due to the baby’s weight, a normal delivery was not possible and a caesarean section was performed on August 2, resulting in the birth of a baby boy.

The complainants alleged that despite persistent post-operative bleeding from her surgical stitches, the hospital discharged Soniya on August 7 even as her sister-in-law had brought it to the attention of the attending nurse and doctors.

Her condition worsened and she had to be re-admitted to the hospital on August 9. Doctors reopened the stitches, but two days later referred her to the GMSH-16, stating that the “case was beyond their control”.

At the GMSH-16, specialists reportedly told the family that a grave error had been committed by the Civil Hospital team. They claimed that after the caesarean, harmful blood clots and fluids had been left inside Soniya’s abdomen, leading to continuous bleeding and a critical health condition.

The case was later referred to the GMCH-32 for advanced treatment. Doctors have said the recovery could take at least a month or longer.

Soniya’s husband Vikas and elder brother-in-law Anuj have sought punitive action against the doctors and staff responsible for her condition, describing the negligence as “life-threatening and inhumane”.

Suman Singh, Director Health Services, said she would order an inquiry to find out whether any negligence occurred at the Manimajra hospital.