Harchowal family accuses doctor of negligence, blocks road for 4 hrs
BATALA: Alleging laxity on part of a doctor working at the community health centre (CHC), Harchowal, led to the death of a newborn on Saturday, hundreds of locals along with the aggrieved family blocked the Gurdaspur-Sri Hargobindpur road for around four hours on Monday.
Sukhdev Singh, a resident of Harchowal, about 25 km from here, said he had admitted his pregnant wife, Baljeet Kaur, to the health centre, where a woman doctor was examining her. “On March 4, the doctor reached the hospital around 11am and after examining my wife, she left,” said Sukhdev.
Around 1pm, when Baljeet experienced pains, Sukhdev reportedly enquired about the doctor, but was told that she had left the hospital to participate in some religious procession. “Later, after waiting for the doctor for more than two hours, the hospital authorities referred my wife to the Gurdaspur hospital, where doctors operated upon her but were unable to save the child,” alleged Sukhdev.
The aggrieved father accused the Harchowal doctor of “sheer negligence” that led to his newborn’s death. He said despite complaints to the health authorities, no action was taken against the doctor. “I have been forced to block traffic, and if the administration doesn’t take action against the doctor, I will not hesitate to knock at the court’s doors to get justice,” he said.
The protesters lifted the dharna only after senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Harbhajan Singh told them he had constituted a three-member team to inquire into their allegation. “If the doctor is found to be negligent, strict action will be taken against her,” he said.
WANTS ACTION AGAINST DOCTOR FOR ‘LEAVING HOSPITAL TO ATTEND RELIGIOUS FUNCTION’; SMO FORMS TEAM TO PROBE ALLEGATION