A private hospital in Telangana’s Ibrahimpatnam was sealed, and a gynaecologist and two nurses were booked for medical negligence Monday after an alleged botched-up procedure on a five-month pregnant woman resulted in the stillbirth of twin babies Sunday.
In the absence of a doctor, the initial treatment of the woman was allegedly administered by two nurses at Vijayalaxmi Hospital following telephonic instructions from the doctor. The family members of the aggrieved couple staged a protest outside the hospital, demanding justice.
The Ibrahimpatnam police filed a case under sections 106(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and are awaiting legal opinion for the arrest of the accused.
I Jagadeesh, Station House Officer, said the investigation is in progress and action will be taken after receiving the report from Ranga Reddy District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) B Venkateswar Rao, who visited the hospital Monday before sealing it.
“We have booked the doctor and two nurses under section for causing death by negligence. We will arrest the accused after taking legal opinion and the DMHO’s report,” the SHO said.
According to the police, Butti Keerthi, 26 and husband Butti Ganesh, 36, have been trying for a child for the last seven years and were under in vitro fertilisation treatment. Keerthi was conceived through IVF in January under the guidance of Dr V Anusha Reddy, a gynaecologist at Vijayalaxmi Hospital.
In his complaint, Ganesh said the doctor performed a scan and confirmed a twin pregnancy and prescribed daily medication. Following this, Keerthi visited Vijayalaxmi Hospital approximately two to three times monthly, he said. In mid-April, 20 days prior to the fetal loss, Dr Reddy allegedly performed a cervical cerclage (stitch) on Keerthi to prevent fetal descent.
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Following this procedure, Keerthi allegedly experienced persistent stomach pain and bleeding. On Sunday, around 4 am, Ganesh contacted Dr Reddy regarding his wife’s condition. The doctor allegedly advised administering tablets and injections. Despite following this advice, Keerthi’s pain persisted, he said.
The complainant said he admitted his wife to Vijayalaxmi Hospital subsequently. Upon arriving at the hospital, they found Dr Reddy was absent and two nurses allegedly took instructions from the doctor over the phone to treat the woman.
At around 9 am, Keerthi experienced severe pain and heavy bleeding, he said. A couple of hours later, she expelled the two premature male fetuses.
DMHO B Venkateswar Rao, when contacted, said a thorough inquiry will be conducted in the case.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
