On Wednesday, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) suggested the State to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of a woman who died during childbirth at the Erode Government Hospital in 2018. B Raj of Ayigoundanpalayam near Erode had said in his petition said that he admitted his wife in a primary health centre at Vijayamangalam on November 29, 2018, where Dr Vijayalakshmi confirmed that his wife would deliver shortly.

In some time, Dr Vijayalakshmi left the centre and nurse Suganya was in charge over there. In the afternoon, Suganya initiated the delivery procedures and the baby’s head came out partially but couldn’t complete the delivery due to some complication.

The woman was then rushed to Thingalur PHC, but she was refused treatment over there. At last, she was admitted to the Government Hospital in Erode, where the doctors attempted the delivery and informed Raj that his wife and infant had died. Disagreeing the allegations, the doctor submitted that all the standard procedures were followed and as there was a complication and so the patient was rushed to the GH.

The commission presided by SHRC acting chairperson D Jayachandran saw that due to the negligence of doctor at the primary health centre in Vijayamangalam led to the death of the woman and her baby and hence ordered a compensation for the family. The commission had recommended to start a disciplinary action against four members of the Special Maternal Death Audit Committee that had given a clean chit to Dr Vijayalakshmi. Several recommendations to improve primary health centres were also made.

Source: The New Indian Express