Doctor declares live foetus dead!

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

MANGALDAI, May 27: Setting aside all medical ethics and minimum sense of humanity, a lady doctor here in Darrang district allegedly declared a  live foetus dead and performed the surgery upon the mother for the delivery of the baby.

Immediately after the surgery, the lady doctor allegedly wrapped the baby in a polythene bag and handed it over to the father declaring it dead. But much to the astonishment of the shocked father, the dead baby made some movements inside the polythene bag, only proving the lady doctor wrong. When the father informed the lady doctor, she immediately left the scene without taking minimum care and treatment of both the new born and the mother.

Another doctor present in the hospital too allegedly did not pay any attention to the baby and the mother. When the family members raised a hue and cry and informed the police, the police without making delay took the initiative for shifting both the new born and the mother to Mangaldai Civil Hospital where the baby was declared dead.

This alleged incident of utter negligence took place in Kharupetia Primary Health Center in Darrang district on May 26. As reported, one farmer of Ghan Shimalu village under Kharupetia Police Station took her expecting wife Eliza Begum for routine check up in the Kharupetia Primary Health Center and as per the alleged advice of the lady doctor on duty, Dr Rumki Paul, the mother underwent an ultrasonography which confirmed the presence of a six-month-old living foetus. But Dr Paul did not agree with the report and told the village farmer that the foetus is dead and to save the mother, a caesarian operation would be required and allegedly demanded an amount of Rs 3000. Finding no altertive, the helpless father paid an amount of Rs 2,500 to Dr Paul and then only the doctor performed the operation in the government hospital.

This unfortute incident has created sensation in the locality and various organizations and the agitated people of the locality resorted to dhar in front of Kharupetia Police Station this morning. They also levelled serious allegation against Dr Paul that she has been involved in performing illegal abortions in the government hospitals.

Additiol Deputy Commissioner Razvee Hussain accompanied by the Joint Director of Health Services visited the hospital and ordered a high level inquiry into it.

A case has been registered in Kharupetia Police Station on this case.