2 pregnant women die at Bihar's Jamui hospital, families allege doctor's absence

Two pregnant women died within hours at Jamui Sadar Hospital as their families alleged the night duty doctor was absent. The deaths triggered a protest at the hospital gate, a reprimand from minister Shreyasi Singh and a 24-hour inquiry.

In Short

• Anita Kumari died hours after being referred from Khaira Health Centre
• Aastha Kumari's condition worsened after Caesarean delivery despite brief emergency treatment
• Relatives staged a gate protest, accusing night duty doctor Dr Shalini

Two pregnant women died within hours at Bihar's Jamui Sadar Hospital, triggering an uproar over alleged negligence and the absence of a doctor on night duty. Their families protested with the bodies at the hospital gate, while minister Shreyasi Singh reprimanded the management and demanded action. A three-member panel has now been formed to probe the deaths.

The first case involved 28-year-old Anita Kumari, wife of Sujit Kumar and a resident of Nariyana village.

According to her family, Anita went into labour on Saturday night and was initially taken to the Khaira Health Centre. She was then referred to Jamui Sadar Hospital for better treatment and reached the hospital at around 11 pm.

Her family alleged that no female doctor was present in the delivery room when she arrived. After examining Anita, health workers reportedly told the family that a doctor would arrive. However, her condition continued to deteriorate through the night.

Anita died at around 5 am on Sunday. According to her family, she was undergoing her third delivery.

The second death involved 26-year-old Aastha Kumari from Chauhandih village.

Aastha underwent a Caesarean section at Sadar Hospital on Saturday and gave birth to a son. Her condition was initially stable after the surgery, but it began to deteriorate around midnight.

Her family alleged that the female doctor was not present in the duty room. Although her condition briefly improved after she received treatment from the doctor on duty in the emergency ward, her health deteriorated again on Sunday morning.

Aastha died at around 10 am.

Her family alleged that she was not regularly monitored after the surgery. A blood transfusion was suggested for the morning, but she died before the blood could be arranged.

Aastha's husband, Ratan Singh, had died in a road accident around four months ago. Her newborn son has now lost his mother as well.

FAMILY PROTESTS WITH BODIES

Following the two deaths, relatives of the women placed their bodies at the hospital's main gate and staged a protest, demanding action against the doctor they held responsible.

The families specifically alleged that Dr Shalini, the female doctor assigned to night duty from 8 pm on Saturday to 8 am on Sunday, remained absent throughout the night.

The hospital administration has not yet confirmed the allegation. The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths and the doctor's alleged absence will be established through the inquiry.

MINISTER REPRIMANDS HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT

After being informed about the deaths, Bihar government minister Shreyasi Singh reached Jamui Sadar Hospital and met the aggrieved families to understand what had happened.

She then questioned Deputy Superintendent Dr Thanish Kumar about the alleged negligence and reprimanded the hospital management in front of the relatives and others gathered at the hospital.

The minister questioned why the critical condition of the patients had not been treated with the required seriousness and why the female doctor had not been summoned when needed. She also raised questions about Dr Shalini's alleged absence during her night duty.

Shreyasi Singh told the Deputy Superintendent that doctors must take timely decisions to save patients' lives and stressed that patients need medical monitoring even during the night.

The minister noted that two women had died within a span of 12 hours and said strict action should be taken against any doctors found guilty.

She also said she would apprise Health Minister Nishant Kumar and Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary of the matter.

HOSPITAL SAYS INQUIRY UNDERWAY

Dr Thanish Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Jamui Sadar Hospital, said he had been informed about the matter and that an investigation was underway.

He said necessary action would be taken against the concerned female doctor if her absence from duty was established. He also said that no written complaint had been received from the relatives so far.

THREE-MEMBER PANEL TO PROBE DEATHS

The district administration has constituted a three-member committee to investigate the deaths and the allegations of negligence.

The committee is headed by the Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) and includes the Civil Surgeon and Senior Deputy Collector Sawan Kumar.

The administration has directed the committee to submit its investigation report within 24 hours. It has also stated that action will be taken against anyone found guilty in the inquiry.

- Ends
With inputs from Rakesh Kumar Singh