Newborn Baby on Ventilator After Emergency C-Section at Kottayam MCH
A 27-year-old woman died during childbirth at Kottayam Medical College Hospital on Monday, triggering allegations of medical negligence from her family and prompting an internal inquiry by hospital authorities.
The deceased has been identified as Pheba Jose, wife of Aneesh, a resident of Polayil House in Omanappuzha, Alappuzha district. Pheba is survived by her husband and their seven-year-old son, Aidan. The newborn baby girl, delivered through an emergency Cesarean section, is currently on ventilator support due to breathing complications.
According to family members, Pheba had been undergoing prenatal treatment at the Women and Children’s Hospital during her second pregnancy. In the fifth month, doctors reportedly detected swelling in the fetus’s intestines, following which she was referred to Kottayam Medical College for advanced care.
The family stated that Pheba was admitted to the hospital on Sunday. By evening, she had reportedly gone into labor and was later shifted to the delivery room late at night. On Monday morning, doctors informed the family that an emergency C-section was necessary.
Hospital authorities later informed relatives that Pheba suffered a cardiac arrest during the surgical procedure. Despite medical efforts, she could not be revived.
Family Alleges Delay in Surgery and Professional Lapses
Following the incident, the family alleged that delays in taking the decision to perform surgery and other professional lapses led to Pheba’s death. The relatives have submitted formal complaints to the Kerala Chief Minister, the Director General of Police (DGP), the hospital superintendent, and the Kottayam police seeking a detailed investigation into the matter.
An autopsy was conducted by a three-member medical panel at Kottayam Medical College after the death.
Kottayam Medical College Orders Internal Probe
Amid mounting allegations, Dr Varghese P Punnoose, Principal of Kottayam Medical College Hospital, ordered an immediate internal inquiry into the incident.
A multidisciplinary committee comprising heads of the departments of Gynaecology, Cardiology, Forensic Medicine, Pediatrics, and General Medicine has been constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding the death and submit a preliminary report.
The incident has once again raised concerns over maternal healthcare and emergency response protocols in government hospitals across Kerala.
