Woman delivers at Hospital Gate

CUTTACK: A woman on Sunday delivered a stillborn baby at the gate of the City Hospital under bizarre circumstances as allegations of neglect against the hospital staff flew thick and fast.  While her kin alleged she was forced to give birth outside on the road as she was refused admission, the doctors refuted stating she had no outward physical signs of labour and was thus advised ultrasound tests and medication. Cuttack Collector KK Mohanty, meanwhile, has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The woman Joharan Bibi, wife of a garage mechanic Salim Khan, was brought to the hospital by her mother Pyari Bibi in the afternoon at around 4.30 as she developed acute pain in the stomach. But when they arrived they found the main gate of the hospital locked. A furore ensued with locals joining in which reportedly drew the attention of the hospital staff and they ushered the patient in through a side gate. “The doctor madam examined my daughter and prescribed medicines. I was asked to get the medicines and take her home. Just as we came out of the hospital Joharan slumped and delivered a baby boy, who was dead,” Pyari lamented. The locals, who were present at the time also corroborated the allegations that the doors of the hospital were locked and that she was not admitted despite her serious condition. “We had to shout to the staff to open the doors,” S K Raju of Kadamrasul, who was present there at the time said. The medical staff, however, had their counter arguments and denied any neglect on their part in treating the woman. The gate of the out-patient department remains closed on Sundays and the doctor immediately attended on the patient when she arrived. “The woman had no records of her pregnancy nor had she done the USG tests as advised on several earlier occasions by the same hospital. Outwardly, the symptoms were not of labour pain and they were not having any information on the weeks completed. I asked her mother to go for ultrasound tests immediately while prescribing medicines. I had also asked them to show the report to me the same day itself. She delivered on the way and the baby appears to have been dead in the womb for over a week now,” said gynaecologist and Medical Officer Dr Charubala Sahoo. The  Collector said, “It is shocking. I have directed the CDMO to conduct an inquiry and submit report to me.”