Probe panel indicts gynaecologist, three nurses of Rupnagar hospital

RUPNAGAR: A three-member inquiry committee, which conducted a probe into the death of a 27-year-old woman after her delivery at the civil hospital here last month, has indicted a gynaecologist and three staff nurses for negligence.

The committee has also held the senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Bharti Ratan responsible for laxity. Those indicted are gynaecologist Dr Chiranjeev Kaur, staff nurses Sandeep Rawat, Amaninder Kaur and Sumit Kaushal.

Meanwhile, Rupnagar deputy commissioner (DC) Gurneet Tej has written to the principal secretary, health , recommending disciplinary action against doctors and nurses.

Notably, the delivery of victim Kamaljit Kaur of Jhallian Khurd village had taken place at 3.45 pm in the civil hospital on July 23 and a baby girl was born to her.

After the delivery, the woman suffered from continuous bleeding. Her family alleged that despite their requests, nurses did not attend the patient and asked a Class-4 employee to attend her.

It was only when the condition of the patient become critical that the gynaecologist, Dr Chiranjeev Kaur, was informed.

Since Dr Chiranjeev was not in town, another gynaecologist Dr Kanchan reached the hospital and referred the patient to Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, around 6.30pm. However, she died on the way.

The next day (on July 24), the family of Kamaljit along with villagers blocked traffic on the hospital road in Rupnagar and the national highway-205 to protest against her death. They also demanded registration of a case against the erring doctor and nurses.

DC Gurneet Tej then constituted a three-member committee comprising additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Gagandeep Singh Virk, superintendent of police (SP) Surinderjit Kaur and assistant commissioner Harbans Singh to conduct an enquiry into the incident.

The committee, which submitted its report recently, concluded that Kamaljit’s death took place due to negligence of doctor on duty, who was absent without intimation to the SMO, and the three staff nurses.

The committee observed that the staff failed in informing the doctor timely and the treatment was delayed due to the absence of the doctor in the hospital.

SMO HELD GUILTY OF LAXITY, LACK OF ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL, DC RECOMMENDS DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST ERRING STAFF