Family blames PGIMS staff

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, May 21

The family members of Jind woman Neelam, who had died shortly after her delivery at the local PGIMS, have again alleged that Neelam had been manhandled by certain PGIMS staffers/medicos, which led to the death of the woman as well as her newborn.

Neelam’s mother Saroj, brother Kuldeep and other family members, who had come to record their statements before the inquiry panel regarding the matter, told reporters that Saroj was manhandled, and when Neelam tried to intervene, she was also slapped. Neelam, who was having labour pains, fell down and died.

Alleging negligence, the family members identified three staffers, including a doctor and a woman security guard. Curiously, a woman staffer they were presuming to be a nurse actually turned out to be a doctor.

It may be pertinent to mention here that after the death of Neelam and her newborn child on the night of May 18, her family members had lodged a police complaint but later decided not to pursue the case.

The PGIMS administration also handed over the bodies of the woman as well as the newborn to their family members without conducting any post-mortem examination, which raised suspicion.

Sources further maintained that the body of the newborn baby would also be exhumed and sent for a post-mortem examination in order to ascertain the cause of death. Due to the question mark raised on the role of the Rohtak police in this regard, the police of some other district, most likely Jind, are expected to be entrusted with the job.

Denying any negligence and/or manhandling, the PGIMS administration had maintained that the woman was suffering from liver and kidney disorders and died due to her critical health condition after delivering a dead child prematurely.

However, instead of getting a post-mortem examination of the bodies of the woman and the baby conducted to get to the bottom of the matter, the PGIMS administration handed over the bodies to their family members for cremation.

The PGIMS officiating director, Dr KB Gupta, said the inquiry was in progress.

Health Minister Anil Vij has directed the DGP to get an FIR lodged in the matter, maintaining that it was a serious matter, prima facie indicating gross negligence on the part of the Rohtak PGIMS authorities.

Vij said if necessary, a post-mortem of the baby should be conducted by a board of doctors.

“Statements of the attendants and other eyewitnesses may be taken by the police. Any other evidence-collection exercise also be initiated,” the minister maintained, adding that the SP concerned be directed to lodge an FIR and send a copy of the same to him (Vij) by fax. Rohtak police has lodged an FIRat the PGIMS police station.