Doc refuses to attend, baby girl dies after birth
Tribune News Service

Poonch, April 10
She was forced to give birth to a girl on the hospital corridor and that too just five feet away from the labour room. Reason: The gynaecologist at the district hospital here didn’t attend to this pregnant woman.

Result: The baby girl died after her birth.

Noor Jahan (32), wife of Mehboob Hussain of Salani in Mendhar, was shifted to the district hospital here by her relatives at 12.00 pm yesterday night after the former complained of intense labour pains. Not finding the lady doctor (gynaecologist) in the hospital, the relatives went to her residence and made repeated appeals to admit Noor Jahan and urged the doctor to operate the lady.

According to an eyewitness, after repeated requests, the gynaecologist reached the hospital and asked the family to get the blood group of pregnant lady detected.

After the family got the blood group of the patient detected and even though the blood was available in the hospital, the gynaecologist asked the family to shift the patient and said she could not be "treated" in the hospital, the source added.

“The gynaecologist even didn't hear to our repeated pleas to admit the patient in the labour room and abused us. Since she didn’t admit the patient, we didn't move from the corridor just close to labour room hoping that she will take pity on our poor relative and admit her,” said Hajira Begum, cousin of the victim.

“After they didn’t admit Noor, she gave birth to a baby girl who died because of the intense cold on the corridor. This is shocking and this lady doctor is biggest curse on the doctor fraternity whose soul aim should be to save the lives of patients. She killed the new borne.”

The cousin sister of the patient said it was only after they called Block Medical Officer Dr Younus Chowdhary that he intervened and got their patient shifted to ward, which saved her life.

Even as the hospital authorities remained tight lipped over the matter, sources said that the medical superintendent of the hospital today called a meeting of the doctors and reportedly told them that strict action will be taken against the doctor if found guilty.