Chennai Corporation has ordered an enquiry into the death of a 26-year-old woman who gave birth at its Maternity Hospital on Pulla Avenue, Shenoy Nagar, on Thursday night. Alleging negligence of Corporation staff, her relatives took the body and staged a protest outside the hospital on Friday.
The victim developed complications and was referred to the Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital. She died on Friday morning.
Kavitha Anand (26) of Thiruveethi Amman 2nd Street, Aminjikarai, was admitted to the 24-hour maternity hospital around 4 p.m. on Thursday.
“Three ayahs who attended her when she was in labour behaved harshly. The lady doctor on duty did not interfere,” said Zeenath Bi, Kavitha's neighbour who accompanied her at the hospital.
Kavitha delivered a baby boy around 6.55 p.m. and was profusely bleeding. The hospital staff acted only after her condition worsened, Zeenath added.
According to Kavitha's younger brother N. Arun, the doctor at the maternity hospital asked them to rush the patient to the Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital for further treatment. “At the KMC we were told that she had lost lot of blood and we arranged for blood for further treatment. But she died at 6.10 a.m. on Friday,” he said.
Her relatives and acquaintances gave up the protest after senior police officers promised action.
Officials of the Chennai Corporation said Kavitha suffered postpartum haemorrhage. As the victim had severe bleeding, they referred her to KMC around 7.30 p.m. on Thursday.
Corporation Commissioner D. Karthikeyan said “We have initiated an enquiry. If we find any lapse in treatment by doctors or care by paramedical staff, action will be taken against them.”
An official of the civic body said action is likely to be taken against one of the paramedical staff. The victim's mother had complained that the staff had behaved rudely with Kavitha.
