A 31-year-old woman died following a medical procedure at a private fertility clinic in Mandaveli, Chennai, on Saturday, triggering protests by her family who accused the hospital of medical negligence.
Woman Underwent Procedure During Fertility Treatment
According to police, the deceased was a homemaker from Adhanur who had been trying to conceive for the past three years. She and her husband had approached a fertility clinic in Mandaveli seeking treatment.
During medical evaluation, doctors reportedly detected a cyst in her uterus and advised a minor surgical procedure at the same clinic. The family was reportedly assured by the clinic authorities that the woman would regain consciousness within an hour after the procedure.
However, when she did not wake up as expected, the clinic staff shifted her to a nearby private hospital. Doctors there declared her dead on arrival.
Body Sent for Post-Mortem
Police said the woman’s body was later sent to Government Royapettah Hospital in Chennai for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Meanwhile, relatives gathered near the hospital mortuary and staged a protest, alleging negligence by the doctors and demanding strict action against those responsible. Police intervened at the scene and dispersed the protesters, after which traffic movement in the area was restored.
Police Inquiry and Medical Council Investigation
Speaking to media, Mukundhan, Inspector of Abhiramapuram Police Station, said the police have questioned the administration of the fertility clinic regarding the incident.
According to the Inspector, the clinic administration stated that the woman was obese and that the surgery was performed under anaesthesia. They claimed that the patient died due to a lack of adequate oxygen supply during the procedure.
Authorities have informed the Medical Council and the Directorate of Medical Services about the case. Police said further action will depend on the findings of the post-mortem report and the inquiry conducted by the concerned medical authorities.
Family Demands Arrest of Those Responsible
The woman’s brother alleged that the clinic lacked adequate infrastructure and that negligence by the medical staff led to her death. He demanded that the doctors and hospital authorities responsible for the incident be arrested.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing, and action will be taken based on the reports submitted by the medical authorities and forensic examination.
