APWWS seeks probe citing medical negligence; family terms it 'triple murder'

ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Sep 28: In a heart-wrenching incident in the capital, the prima facie cause of which can be attributed to lack of timely medical attention, an expecting woman and her twins died before commencement of the delivery procedure.
Family members of the deceased woman, Desu Pertin Jerang who was working in the Water Resources Department (WRD) on Monday alleged that she died because of sheer negligence of the doctors attending her. Informing about the incident, the woman’s husband, Talak Jerang who also works in the same department as a driver alleged that his wife was not treated in time despite repeated intimations of bleeding and breathlessness. 
“Health condition of my wife was very critical and she was undergoing treatment under guidance of Dr. Posting Bayang from the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital (RKMH) in the capital. Due to severe pain and high bleeding and with no option left she was brought at Heema hospital as Dr. Bayang was not responding to calls,” he said, adding that as there were no doctors at Heema hospital at that moment, she was again brought back to RKMH. “However, my wife was again transported to Heema hospital as per the direction given by Dr. Bayang over phone and after a formal check-up for COVID-19, she was finally admitted to the hospital,” Jerang said.
But this was not the end to their woes as despite being tested COVID-19 negative, the critical patient was not treated at Heema hospital and was instead asked to shift to TRIHMS by the doctor citing non-availability of operational instruments. “My wife died on the way to TRIHMS along with her twins in the womb. She could have been saved if the doctor acted timely and with responsibility,” Jerang said.
Terming the deaths as “triple murder”, the family members of the deceased has appealed the state government to initiate action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, clarifying on the allegation, Dr. Bayang who is a Senior Gynaecologist at the RKMH claimed there was no negligence on his part and he had responded to the calls and messages of the patient party without delay. Giving his reactions he said: “Since the last three months, she was under my consultation. However, on September 18 last, I received a call from the patient’s family members that she was in a serious condition and as my hospital i.e. the RKMH was closed since many days, I suggested them to admit her to Niba hospital or Heema hospital. But this morning, I came to know that my name has been dragged into the incident.” 
“At 5:30 am today, I got calls and messages from the patient’s family members and while responding I suggested them to visit  Heema hospital as the RKMH was closed for sanitization, also informing them that I was about to visit the hospital to attend a serious delivery patient. I may have missed a call while attending the patient,” Dr. Bayang informed. When asked about his recommendation to take the patient to TRIHMS, he said that after observing the patient’s deteriorating condition, I advised the family members to immediately take her to TRIHMS as he was not in a position to handle the patient and had even requested the on-call duty doctor there to help them.
Giving an explanation why the patient was denied treatment at the Heema Hospital, Dr Bayang informed that as per COVID protocols every patient has to get tested, however, due to the absence of the authority who takes samples, the hospital authority had advised them to wait for some time.
The Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society while expressing shock and grief over the death, has urged the state government to initiate enquiry into the deaths which it said "appears to be case of medical negligence."
It is unacceptable that women continue to die in childbirth due to lack of health facility. Adequate compensation should be paid to the bereaved family members by the hospital authorities, APWWS said in a release.
Society also appealed to the health department to ensure that such tragic incidents do not happen again. Maternity health needs to be looked into as many pregnant women have not been able to access medical facility on time due to covid-19 pandemic leading to closure of hospitals time and again in Capital region, it said

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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