BALASORE: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department and Mayurbhanj SP on the death of a woman, who was allegedly assaulted by a nurse and died after delivering a stillborn in the District Headquarters Hospital in October.
Earlier, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) had directed Director of Health Services and Collector and Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Mayurbhanj to inquire into the incident and file a report.
On October 5, a pregnant woman Debajani Singh (30), wife of Khudiram Singh of Kayensari village, was allegedly assaulted by a staff nurse Chanchala Das at the District Headquarters Hospital, Baripada, as she screamed due to labour pain.
Debajani was admitted to the hospital a day before and when she complained of labour pain, ASHA worker Bisakha Mohanty approached Das to attend her. Instead of coming to her rescue, the nurse allegedly assaulted her for screaming in pain. A few hours later, the woman died after delivering a stillborn baby.
Following the incident, tension ran high on the hospital premises as locals gheraoed the hospital demanding compensation to the deceased and stringent action against the nurse.
The petition was filed by rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy and NHRC has sought the ATR within four weeks. Meanwhile, the staff nurse has been placed under suspension.