HC upholds termination of doctor by BMC for medical negligence

A baby of a woman, who delivered near the hospital gate on October 10 last year, died due to the medical negligence of the doctor.

The hospital, run by the civic body, conducted a probe and found Dr Manorhita Gaikwad, a stipendiary doctor, guilty following which her services were terminated.

The doctor then moved the High Court challenging the termination.

The petitioner doctor was enrolled for Diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (DGO) with College of Physicians and Surgeons, Mumbai and appointed on January 29 last year as resident doctor in Bhabha hospital for doing the 18-month diploma.

The woman patient, Tabassum Sohrab Shaikh (19), came to the labour ward in full term pregnancy on October 10 last year, carrying her medical papers including an Ultra Sonography report.

The patient was first examined by Dr Atul Kulkarni who referred the case to the petitioner.

They, then decided to send her to Sion hospital for an Ultra Sonography despite the fact that the earlier report of October 5 showed the foetus in a breech condition.

The patient returned from Sion Hospital with an Ultra Sonography report showing a breech position of the foetus and a reduction of amniotic fluid.

Then, Dr Gaikwad and Dr Kulkarni without informing the Registrar on duty referred the patient to a "higher centre" but did not arrange for an ambulance nor any doctor or nurse accompanied the patient as required under the hospital procedure.

The patient delivered at the gate of the hospital and by the time medical help was received, she had delivered a baby who died on the same day. (MORE)