Family members of V. Malathi (22), a victim of maternal death at a Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Vannikudi near Manamadurai and the villagers staged a protest in front of the Government Medical College hospital here on Friday, demanding action against those who were responsible for the death of the young mother.
M. Kandasamy, district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who led the protest said that Vijayakumar had admitted his wife Malathi (22), a dalit woman at the Vannikudi PHC for delivery on June 6 and she died on Thursday night, allegedly after paramedical staff conducted the delivery in the absence of doctor.
He said after not being satisfied with the facilities at the PHC, Vijayakumar wanted to shift his wife to the government hospital at Manamadurai, but the doctor refused to discharge her. The doctor was not available at the PHC when Malathi, who came for the first delivery, developed labour on Thursday night, he said quoting the family members.
After the young mother died delivering a girl baby, the paramedical staff shifted the body to the government medical college hospital here the same day night, fearing protest by the villagers, he said. Family members accepted the body on Friday evening after Dr. Yasodha Rani, Deputy Director, health and revenue officials gave a written undertaking to consider their demands.
The family members demanded action against the doctor, who was posted at the PHC, ₹ 20 lakh compensation to the family and best medical treatment to the newborn, who was undergoing treatment at the medical college hospital.
Meanwhile, Collector S. Malarvizhi, who conducted an enquiry after summoning the doctor, nurse and other paramedical staff of Vannikudi PHC, said action would be initiated against the guilty after the completion of the enquiry.
