Ganjam: In a shocking case of medical negligence, a woman and her newborn died after a delivery was allegedly conducted by an unqualified nursing home owner and two auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) in Odisha’s Ganjam district. Police have arrested the nursing home owner, identified as Mangulu Charan Pradhan (35), along with two ANMs in connection with the case.
The Incident
The victim, Roji Nayak, was admitted to the nursing home in Dengausta village on May 11 after the staff assured her family that the facility was fully equipped for a safe delivery. However, the delivery was conducted without the presence of a registered medical practitioner.
“After four hours of labour, the delivery was conducted by the accused without any qualified doctor present,” said Prasant Kumar Patra, inspector-in-charge of Digapahandi police station.
The newborn was declared dead shortly after birth, while the mother’s condition deteriorated rapidly. She was being shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur but died on the way.
Police Action
Following a complaint filed by the victim’s husband, police launched an investigation. One ANM was arrested on May 19, another on August 10, and Pradhan was arrested later from his village.
Authorities have booked the accused under charges of negligence, cheating, and operating without proper medical registration.
Pattern of Quackery Cases
This tragedy comes amid a series of disturbing cases of unqualified individuals performing medical procedures in India:
- In Bihar’s Karakat region, a 26-year-old pregnant woman died after a quack performed a C-section with video call guidance from another doctor. Authorities later sealed the clinic.
- In Maharashtra, multiple patients lost vision due to botched cataract surgeries, prompting the state medical council to summon the ophthalmologists involved.
Rising Concerns
Health experts say such incidents highlight the urgent need for stricter regulation of private clinics and nursing homes, particularly in rural areas where patients often fall prey to unqualified practitioners due to lack of accessible healthcare facilities.
