Post News Network
Burla, April 11: Tension ran high at obstetrics and gynaecology (O & G) department of VSS Medical College and Hospital here after three pregnant women died within five hours after surgery at the hospital Friday night.
The deceased were identified as Sulochana Pradhan (26), wife of Iswar Pradhan, of Chhualibernar under Belpahar police limits in Jharsuguda district, Kalpana Mahakura (26), wife of Rohan Mahakura, of Banshibahal and Kasturi Seth (25) of Sialakhandahata under Bheden police limits in Bargarh.
According to professor Lal Mohan Nayak, head of department of O & G department, caesarean operation was conducted on nine pregnant women between 4pm and 5 pm. After conducting caesarean on the women, the doctors kept them in the observation room before shifting them to the ward within 24 hours.
However, conditions of three patients deteriorated at around 10 pm. Though treatment was made available immediately after their illness was reported, they died in quick succession by 11 pm, Nayak added.
On being asked about the operating procedure adopted by them during surgery, Nayak said the operation was done by three experienced doctors of the hospital. Though the exact cause of their death is yet to be known, they could have died due to side-effects of medicines given to the patients, he said.Meanwhile, the hospital authorities released the bodies without conducting post-mortem. When contacted, senior resident doctor Sushant Kumar Barik said he had written to medical superintendent Laxmikant Das in this regard.
Burla hospital police out-post sub-inspector Nikhil Prasad Ray said he had no information about the incident and he received no medical certificate.
Meanwhile, the state government ordered a high-level investigation into the deaths. Health and family welfare minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said a high-level committee will go into the deaths.
Meanwhile, the director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Babaji Charan Das has started an investigation into the matter.
Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi, along with local MP, went to the hospital to take stock of the situation Saturday afternoon. She also discussed with the doctors of the hospital and expressed her regrets over the matter.
