After public outrage, Kashmir’s top government-run Lal Ded Hospital on Saturday ordered an inquiry into the death of a newborn after the mother delivered the baby outside the hospital in sub-zero temperature.
“The incident needs a thorough inquiry to take an appropriate action in case of negligence. The Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar, is directed to enquire into the matter and furnish a report within two days,” reads the order of the Divisional Commissioner-Kashmir, Basheer Khan.
A family alleged that a pregnant woman from the far-off village of Kupwara, over 100 km away from Srinagar, was denied admission in the hospital on Friday evening, forcing the mother to deliver the baby by the roadside in sub-zero temperature. She delivered a still-born baby, alleged the family.
“The doctor has been attached. The doctor said the patient was not in labour and she was sent back,” said Medical Superintendent, Lal Ded Hospital, Dr. Shabir Siddique.
The pregnant woman had braved heavy snow on the ground to reach the Srinagar hospital from Kupwara, where locals put her on a cot first and trudged through snow for several kilometres to reach the district headquarters and then the State capital. Locals in Kashmir took to the social media to express their outrage over the incident.
The Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK), a body of doctors, demanded an impartial probe on a fast track basis to ascertain the facts and punish the guilty. “It is disgusting, unfortunate and pathetic that a pregnant woman, from Kalaroos in Kupwara, 150 km away from the Lal Ded Hospital, was denied admission,” said DAK president Dr. Suhail Naik.
Former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah demanded strict action in the tragic case.
“Heart wrenching that a pregnant woman was turned away from a hospital, which ironically is named after the great Kashmiri mystic saint Lal Ded. She later gave birth to a still-born in frigid temperatures,” said Ms. Mufti.
“I hope the State functionaries working under the command of the Governor will take immediate action in this tragic case,” said Mr. Abdullah.
