The controversy over the incident of a migrant woman worker delivering a baby at a public place here on Sunday does not seem to end as the hospital authorities have ordered another inquiry into the entire episode. Soon after the incident, a woman sanitary staff was suspended by the hospital.
However, the woman Lakshmi and her husband Samuel left the hospital on Wednesday evening against medical advice.
A duty doctor in the post natal ward lodged a complaint with the Salem GH police station stating that Lakshmi and her husband, with a group of woman activists, left a letter and walked out with their baby even as the staff tried to stop them. It was also alleged that the activists had a verbal tiff with the GH staff.
Based on the complaint, the police registered a case of preventing government staff from discharging duty and for using abusive language against the NGO members. Hospital sources said, the activists and Samuel met the dean and asked him to permit Lakshmi to leave the hospital. But he turned down their request advising them to stay at the hospital for a few more days of medical observation.
However they stuck to their demand and told them they would seek the collector’s permission. But they allegedly left the hospital without obtaining the permission of the Collector.
Samuel had reportedly told the hospital authorities that he wanted to take his wife and children to his native village in Vijayawada as almost all the 50 families which migrated for jobs from his place have returned.
Woman activists who had been assisting Lakshmi have complained that the woman found the hospital atmosphere hostile and intimidating.
The hospital had allowed one activist to assist her after this complaint was raised.
Dr Vallinayagam, Dean, said the woman and the infant were in good state of health. But it would require few more days of medical attention as any deterioration of their health after their exit from the hospital might lead to complications and would put the hospital in the dock again. Despite our advice, the couple had left the hospital, he said.
He informed that another detailed inquiry has been tentatively fixed on April 24 in which the entire staff doctors, nurses and other support staff in the department would be inquired.
Lakshmi and Samuel would also be summoned.