Satna District Hospital under scrutiny after misdiagnosis; three doctors face internal inquiry
Bhopal: In a deeply disturbing incident of alleged medical negligence, a 24-year-old pregnant woman from Chakera village in Rampur Baghelan, Madhya Pradesh, was falsely informed that her foetus was dead at a government hospital in Satna — only to deliver a healthy baby boy just hours later at a private facility.
Misdiagnosis at District Hospital
The woman, admitted to Amarpatan Civil Hospital with labour pains in the early hours of July 16, was referred to Satna District Hospital due to complications. At around 7:30 AM, doctors there conducted routine examinations. A Doppler scan around 9 AM reportedly failed to detect the foetal heartbeat, and a follow-up sonography also showed no movement, leading doctors to declare the foetus dead and recommend medication-based abortion.
However, her husband, unconvinced by the diagnosis, sought a second opinion. “We felt we had to be sure before proceeding,” he told TOI. The couple visited a private diagnostic centre in Bharhutnagar, where a fresh sonography confirmed that the baby was alive and in good health.
Safe Delivery at Private Hospital
The woman was immediately shifted to a private nursing home, where she underwent a C-section delivery. The baby boy weighed 3.5 kg and was born without complications.
Doctors at the private facility confirmed that upon re-evaluation, all vital signs and foetal growth indicators were normal. “There was no reason to delay the delivery,” one doctor said.
Family Demands Action
“If we had followed their advice, our living baby would have died,” a family member told India Today, calling the error “gross negligence.” The family is demanding strict punitive action against the medical staff at the government hospital.
Official Probe Initiated
The Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr. L.K. Tiwari confirmed that an official inquiry has been launched. A letter has been sent to the Dean of the Medical College and the Civil Surgeon. “Strict action will be taken if any lapse is found,” said Dr. Tiwari.
Sources at the hospital revealed that three doctors, including a senior radiologist and a senior gynaecologist, are currently under scrutiny as part of an internal investigation.
Context & Previous Incidents
This case follows growing concerns across India over errors in prenatal diagnostics. Just weeks ago, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed health departments to ensure timely and accurate medical reporting in criminal and medico-legal cases — a directive that resonates with the Satna case’s implications on both patient safety and systemic accountability.
As the inquiry proceeds, the incident has sparked renewed calls for better training, accountability, and infrastructure upgrades in government medical institutions to prevent such potentially fatal errors in the future.
