The Karnataka Medical Council (KMC) has issued warnings to two gynaecologists on account of alleged medical negligence that led to the death of a pregnant woman in August 2011. The doctors were associated with a maternity home in Malleswaram.
Santhosh Kumar V, husband of the deceased Kavitha, said at a news conference here on Saturday that she was treated at the maternity home in Malleswaram since 2005. “However, at the time of delivery in August, 2011, the main gynaecologist did not attend to her. Instead, she gave instructions on phone to her assistant who performed a procedure with forceps that led to Kavitha’s death,” alleged Santhosh who is a general manager in a private company.
He said the assisting doctor who carried out the delivery had no licence from KMC to practise as it had expired in 2005 and she had not renewed it since.
The KMC took note of Santhosh’s complaint that stated his wife delivered the baby at the maternity home after which she suffered from post-partum haemorrhage. She had to be rushed to a tertiary care hospital in Vasanthnagar where she died. Santhosh had named five doctors who were involved in his wife’s treatment. He also filed a case before the Consumer Forum seeking a compensation of `19 lakh.
The KMC, in an order, issued warnings to the main gynaecologist. The name of the doctor with the expired licence has been struck off the medical registry for two years.
Dr Chikkananjappa, who was president of the KMC when the order was passed, said the doctor had registered herself in Maharashtra but not in Karnataka. “She performed a delivery using forceps and it was forced, which led the patient to suffer heavy bleeding,” he said.
The other three doctors, including one from a private hospital in Vasanthnagar, were exonerated as they were not at fault, he said. Dr Chikkananjappa added patients can file complaint with the KMC about negligence, incompetence, professional misconduct and moral turpitude on part of doctors.