The Mizoram government on Wednesday ordered a magisterial probe into the maternal death of a woman and two newborn babies in a government hospital in central Mizoram’s Serchhip town.
The government order came following complaints raised by several groups and public outcry on social media,
The order has been issued by the Mizoram health and family welfare department.
There were complaints and public outcry on social media on the maternal death of Malsawmkimi, a resident of Tlangpui village in Serchhip and her newborn infant and also maltreatment of a woman named Vanlalhlimpuii of Sialsir village in the same district and the subsequent death of her newborn son at Serchhip district hospital.
While the newborn son of Vanlalhlimpuii died at Serchhip district hospital on October 31, a month later Malsawmkimi and her newborn baby died at the same hospital on December 3, it said.
“It is felt necessary to conduct a magisterial inquiry to find out the fact of the case and to ascertain the officials responsible for the unfortunate death of the persons,” the order said.
Serchhip district magistrate Kumar Abhishek has been entrusted to conduct the probe into the twin cases, according to the order.
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The district magistrate has also been directed to submit its findings or reports to the health department within 30 days from the issuance of the inquiry order.
Earlier on December 6, Serchhip Thalai Pawl (Serchhip Youth Club) had written to health minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana and Serchhip deputy commissioner demanding a probe into the multiple death cases citing negligence on the part of hospital authorities.
However, the hospital management denied the allegation.
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Several organisations, including Young Mizo Association (YMA) based in Tlangpui village, had also demanded an inquiry into the death of Malsawmkimi and her newborn child.
The groups alleged that Malsawmkimi was given wrong treatment by her doctor without ascertaining the victim’s real condition and demanded action against the doctors responsible for her death and her newborn baby.
The group further demanded an ex-gratia to the tune of not less than Rs 5 lakh to the relatives of the deceased.
The relatives of Malsawmkimi alleged that doctors and nurses neglected her and refused to perform an emergency cesarean even as she begged for it.
The woman gave a painful birth on the evening of December 3 and died the same night due to excessive loss of blood, they said.
Her baby also died shortly after, they added.
However, the hospital authorities claimed that the woman chose a natural birth when she was asked if she would like to go for a cesarean section.
After giving birth, she developed a hemorrhage, which was believed to be a case of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy (DIC) or abnormal blood clotting, they said.
The recent incidents at the district hospital alleged to be stemmed out of ‘laxity’ have triggered a public outcry.
An official said that a team of health officials led by state health and family welfare board vice chairman Dr. ZR Thiamsanga will visit Serchhip district hospital on Thursday to take stock of the situation.