Contract doc terminated, doc in-charge suspended as two infants die of ‘negligence’

Raipur: Chhattisgarh health department has terminated a contractual doctor and suspended the doctor in-charge of the Urla primary health centre in Raipur district on Wednesday after the death of two infants within 12 hours of their birth on Tuesday. Health officials had received a complaint that there was a dispute between the medical staff which led to alleged negligence.
According to the orders issued, contractual doctor Poonam Sarkar was terminated for negligence during the delivery of the baby. Meanwhile, the medical in-charge Dr. Sunil Sahu was suspended due to his alleged indifferent behaviour during the whole situation.
On Monday evening, Santosh Sahu admitted his wife, Soni Sahu, at the health centre in Raipur after she went into labour. By the evening, Soni experienced severe labour pain, prompting Dr Poonam Sarkar to check her.
According to reports, the baby’s head had already emerged, but due to a quarrel with the nursing staff the doctor did not intervene, and the nurse too failed to assist. As a result, the baby remained stuck for about two hours and died from suffocation. This incident led to a protest by the family members at the hospital.
A few hours later, another newborn died at the same health centre, allegedly due to a delay in the doctor’s response.