In early hours on Thursday, a woman delivered her baby on the floor at Dr Mathra Das Pahwa Civil Hospital in Moga, Punjab after the on-duty hospital staff allegedly refused to take her inside labour room saying that she “isn’t yet prepared for the delivery”.

Amandeep Kaur’s family and all the attendants with other patients alleged that she was screaming in pain for hours from Wednesday evening and kept walking till labour room for help. But the staff on duty allegedly kept turning her away saying that her delivery will happen only in morning. According to her family members, she delivered the baby on the floor in the lobby around 5 am on Thursday. They also said that there wasn’t a single doctor present on night duty and one staff nurse along with two ‘helpers’ (including a Class-IV employee) who were attending the patients in labour.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Amandeep’s mother-in-law, Swaran Kaur from village Baje Ke of Dharamkot in Moga, said that from 4 pm on Wednesday evening, her daughter-in-law was in severe pain. They kept telling staff inside labour room that Amandeep was not feeling well but they kept turning her away and said delivery will be done only in the morning. Few of the nurses were sleeping inside on beds. Amandeep kept screaming in pain but no one bothered to take care of her. Shortly, her water bag broke and she passed urine and also defecated near visitors chair in lobby. Her mother-in-law went to get her fresh clothes. Meanwhile, she gave out final screams and delivered baby boy on the floor at around 5 am. Another woman who was present there held her baby immediately and saved his head from banging on the floor. It was only when the baby was delivered, the nurses came out running from inside and detached the umbilical cord and took them inside. She also said that there was no doctor present but only staff nurses and helpers.

After the delivery, Amandeep said that she kept screaming and shouting in pain that she need some help but staff on duty did not listen. At last, she collapsed on floor and delivered. She also said that this should not happen with any other woman.

Manisha, an attendant with another patient who was present at the spot throughout Wednesday night till Thursday morning, said that as soon as Amandeep delivered the baby, another patient collapsed on floor and was then immediately rushed inside labour room. She said further that the way Amandeep was screaming in pain, the hospital staff should be aware of the emergency but they kept turning her away. And when others started questioning them and asked how staff inside was sleeping when patients were screaming in pain outside, they asked them to keep quiet and not make any videos.

In the meantime, Gagandeep Kaur, the staff nurse who was on duty in labour room, denied the allegation that the patient was denied entry into labour room due to negligence of staff. She said that there were only three people on duty including one Class -IV employee and she had three other patients. There are only three beds in labour room and was given medicines and a bed outside in the gynaecology ward but suddenly she felt pressure to relieve herself. As she went to urinate, her pains increased and she collapsed on floor. They then went there immediately and took care of baby and mother.

She added that doctor wasn’t present when the delivery happened as she had ‘called’ senior gynecologist Dr Manisha Gupta earlier and she was on her way. Other attendants started making videos and misbehaved with them so had to tell them to maintain patient’s privacy.

Dr Rajesh Attri, senior medical officer (SMO), Civil Hospital, Moga claimed that all patients were given proper care and there was no negligence. The patient Amandeep Kaur had sudden pressure to urinate due to which she moved out of bed and the delivery happened on the floor. Patients are taken to labour room only when they are ready for delivery and not before as they have only three beds inside the labour room. He denied allegations that the staff was sleeping inside, saying that eight deliveries were done from 8 pm to 8 am during that period. When asked why the doctor was missing, then he said that she was on her way and during night duties, doctors are called and informed if any emergency case.

Source: The Indian Express