Public outrage over death of woman at NHAK; Pangnyu orders inquest

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, August 29: The death of a mother of three, due to alleged medical negligence at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) on Thursday, has sparked a public outcry, drawing the attention of Minister for Health and Family Welfare S Pangnyu Phom.

The minister took to twitter to inform that the department has set up a four-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee, consisting of joint director, deputy director, managing director and medical superintendent of NHAK, will submit its report within one week.

Phom in his tweet sought cooperation, during the course of investigation, so that justice will be served without delay. Also, he assured that the government will take appropriate action, as per the report, and that justice will be delivered.

A relative of the victim took to Facebook, and alleged that the victim who had delivered a baby girl died due to ‘medical negligence inside the labour room of Naga Hospital Authority Kohima on August 28.’

The Facebook post by the relative had claimed that “unfortunately there was severe bleeding (postpartum haemorrhage) but the nurses did not care even though she bled continuously for hours.” The post alleged that when the family members asked the nurses why they were not doing anything, they were reprimanded and told it was normal.

“The family members asked when they were going to call the doctors on duty (but) the nurse-in-charge scolded them again. The concerned family members once again asked if they needed to do blood test, they were again scolded and insulted. Then our sister-in-law went into hypovolemic shock and only then did the nurses send the family members to go search for blood in the blood bank. But it was already too late,” the FB post read.

As per the post, the victim was a mother of three: a seven-year-old son, a five-year-old daughter and a newborn daughter.

The relative termed the incident as “medical arrogance” and alleged that the incident was a familiar story of medical negligence that has been occurring in the delivery room of NHAK for so many years.

NHAK Managing Director Dr. Thorhusie Katiry when contacted by Eastern Mirror said that a four-person enquiry committee has been constituted, and the committee will be submitting its report.