In a heart-wrenching incident, a 30-year-old woman and her newborn twins died after the mother in labour was denied admission to a government hospital in Karnataka.
The woman, identified as Kasturi, went back to her shanty after she was refused admission at Tumakuru District Hospital and delivered twin babies on Thursday night. She suffered heavy bleeding while delivering her second baby, following which the mother and the twin babies died.
Following a departmental enquiry, a doctor and three nurses at Tumakuru District Hospital in Karnataka have been suspended for medical neglect.
Kasturi hailing from Tamil Nadu moved to Bharatinagar in Tumakuru last month. Her husband died by suicide four months ago.
Kasturi was brought to the hospital around 9.30 pm on Wednesday after she developed labour pain. She was denied admission as she could not produce her Aadhaar card and Thayi card-a card issued to pregnant women in Karnataka.
Kasturi was allegedly told to go to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru. A construction labourer, she did not have money to arrange for an ambulance and hence she went back home and succumbed to her fate.
Kasturi is survived by her six-year-old daughter.
Dr Sudhakar, health minister, Karnataka said a three-member committee would be constituted to conduct an enquiry into the incident.
Dr Manjunatha DN, district health officer (DHO) said it is “a dereliction of duty.” “Since I cannot order the duty doctor’s suspension, I recommended it to the Tumakuru district deputy commissioner,” he told PTI.
The incident has created a furore in the state and opposition parties including the JD(S) and the Congress are clamouring for the health minister’s resignation.
HD Kumaraswamy, former chief minister of Karnataka tweeted, “A while ago I tweeted about the dark side of state @BJP4Karnataka government administration (recession incident) which is drowning in politics, elections and propaganda. But, a more terrible and gut-wrenching incident took place in Tumkur, which shook the whole of Karnataka.”
“Is mother card important, or the treatment? Life matters, or rules? @mla_sudhakar What is important? Is the rule mandatory for treatment that is not for corruption,” he added.
Siddaramaiah, congress leader and former chief minister of Karnataka demanded Sudhakar’s resignation holding him responsible for the death of the babies. “ The health minister who is responsible for the death of two newborns due to the negligence of doctors in Tumkur district should immediately resign,’’ he said.
