ANANTNAG: Protests broke out on Monday at the Maternity and Child Care Hospital in Anantnag following the death of a 24-year-old woman after childbirth, with her family and locals alleging serious medical negligence and demanding intervention by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Health Minister Sakina Itoo.
The deceased, identified as Khushboo Jan, wife of Zubair Ahmed Bhat of Pushwara Khanabal in Anantnag district, had been admitted to the hospital on Saturday for delivery. Her family claims that a series of medical lapses eventually led to her death late Monday night at GMC Anantnag.
According to her husband, Khushboo Jan underwent a surgical delivery on the day of admission and was later shifted to a ward. He alleged that a few hours later, she complained of dizziness and her condition worsened. “I immediately informed the doctors. She was given a drip, but the head nurse reportedly objected, saying the glucose should have been warmed first due to the cold weather,” he said.
Zubair Ahmed further alleged that as her condition deteriorated, she was taken back to the operating theatre, where doctors informed the family that her uterus needed to be removed. After a second surgery, she was referred to GMC Anantnag. “She remained on ventilation and breathed her last late Monday night. This is gross negligence. Had her condition been that serious, she should have been referred to Srinagar in time,” he said.
Family members and locals who assembled to protest said they have lost faith in internal hospital inquiries. They alleged that previous probes were merely formalities, with no inquiry report made public and no accountability fixed. Protesters described the process as ineffective and appealed directly to the Lieutenant Governor and the Health Minister to order an impartial and transparent investigation.
“We are being told that committees are formed, but nothing ever comes out of them,” one protester said, demanding strict action if negligence is established.
Medical Superintendent of MCCH Anantnag, Dr Mushtaq when contacted, told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that a committee has been constituted and tasked with conducting a time-bound inquiry into the incident. He said responsibility will be fixed after the completion of report. [KNT]
