From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH: In a case of gross negligence of duty and medical ethics, a government doctor turned down the call of help by a pregnant woman and her attendants following which the expectant mother breathed her last.
The incident occurred at Umsning Community Health Centre (CHC) where the 26-year-old pregnant woman identified as Saidalin Kurbah, wife of Ten Nonglait, who hailed from Umtham village in Ri Bhoi District was admitted on Wednesday around 11 pm.
Dr Dipherlin Rani, who was the government doctor on duty, examined the patient on her arrival at the CHC and advised her relatives to get her admitted in the hospital.
The woman started developing acute labour pain after some hours of admission, and when her attendant requested the chowkidar (watchman) to call Dr Rani to attend to the patient, the doctor turned a deaf ear.
After battling for hours with her unbearable pains, she breathed her last on Thursday morning around 5:30 am. Narrating the incident on Thursday, the patient’s attendant said, “I watched her crying out in pain but there was nothing that I can do. I was wondering what wrong had we done that the doctor refused to come to her aid.”
On receiving the information, members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Umsning Circle and North Khasi Hills unit met the relatives of the victim for details of the incident.
The KSU leaders tried to meet Dr Rani but he was not at the hospital. Following this, they met Dr Mawiong who was on duty then, but he tried to cover up the matter and even refused to provide the mobile number of Dr Rani.
The KSU has now resolved to take up the matter with the higher ups in the Health department discuss the same with the Umsning Town Durbar for further course of action. They have also decided to demand for stern action against the erring doctor.
It is noteworthy that the Central Government is spending crores of rupees to encourage institutional delivery through the National Rural Health Mission, but the government doctors are often found wanting in the discharge of their duties.