BHUBANESWAR: The controversy over the death of a destitute woman Mira Sethi at the Capital Hospital here has taken a new turn with the Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW) issuing summons to doctors of Capital Hospital (CH) over negligence in attending her.
Taking cognisance of the news report in TNIE on Wednesday, highlighting the lapses on part of the hospital in facilitating proper treatment to the hapless woman, which could have saved her life, the Commission has held the doctors responsible for her death. It has sought a detailed report on who accompanied the woman in the ambulance to Cuttack and which department was she admitted to on her arrival at the SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH).
Mira Sethi, the destitute woman who was admitted to the Capital Hospital after being found at the Nayapalli durga mandap on June 29 by some social activists, died of pregnancy-related complications due to delay in medical attention. She was reportedly first brought to the Capital Hospital a day before but was referred to the SCBMCH at Cuttack due to her critical condition.
Sethi was taken to SCBMCH in a 108 ambulance but as no attendant was sent along, she was deprived of attention at the premier hospital. She then reportedly walked out of the hospital unnoticed and returned to Bhubaneswar. She was found in a very serious condition and again admitted to Capital Hospital where she succumbed.
Mira’s life could have been saved, if an attendant had accompanied her to SCBMCH and ensured proper treatment for her,” said Lopamudra Buxipatra, Chairperson, OSCW while also issuing summons to the 108 ambulance service.
It has called for an explanation over how the victim could manage to get away from SCBMCH after being shifted there on June 28.
It is also alleged that the 108 ambulance service did not turn up the next day when its services were sought for shifting the victim to Cuttack again, which led to her death.
Meanwhile, even as the Capital Hospital authorities continue to be evasive, questions are being raised on the social service organisation that has been provided space facilities on the hospital campus to render services to patients in need.
There is no system in place at the Capital Hospital to attend to or escort destitute patients to referral hospitals. Further, the doctors and staff here had reportedly forced two women of a social service organisation, who had rushed the victim to the hospital in an effort to save her life, to claim her body after she died.