Kalaburagi: A heartbreaking incident at the District Hospital attached to the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) has sparked allegations of medical negligence following the death of a 23-year-old mother and subsequent mistreatment of her newborn on Tuesday.
The woman, admitted after giving birth to a baby boy earlier that morning at a government health facility in Afzalpur, passed away due to severe post-delivery bleeding. Her family alleges that inadequate treatment at both the Afzalpur and District Hospitals led to her death.
The controversy deepened when the newborn, declared healthy by hospital staff, was handed over to the grandmother. Reports reveal she was left sitting in an open area with the baby wrapped in her sari, without proper care or assistance. The family claimed hospital staff advised them to take the baby home instead of admitting him for observation.
It was only after media personnel intervened and contacted the District Surgeon and Health Officer that the baby was admitted for medical care. “The hospital staff said the baby didn’t need medical attention and asked us to take him home. They gave no guidance or assistance,” the grandmother said.
The husband of the deceased filed a formal complaint, alleging medical negligence. He stated that at the Afzalpur facility, a nurse handled the delivery in the absence of a doctor, despite the critical condition of the mother. Upon her blood pressure dropping, the nurse arranged for her transfer to the district hospital, where he claimed doctors also failed to provide proper treatment.
District Surgeon Dr. Rukhia Asana Rabba refuted the allegations, stating, “The patient experienced excessive bleeding and a drop in blood pressure due to shock. There was no negligence in her care.”
A probe has been initiated by District Health Officer Dr. Sharanabasappa Kyatanal and District Health and Family Welfare Officer, who have assured the family that appropriate action will be taken if negligence is established.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the quality of maternal and neonatal care in government health facilities, drawing public and media attention to the critical need for accountability in healthcare services.
