Baby’s head severed during delivery, no doctor in PHC

The incident occurred at a government primary health centre near Koovathur in Kancheepuram district on Wednesday. The baby’s torso was stuck in the womb.

No obstetrician was present at the health centre at the time of the incident. While Chengalpattu Deputy Director of Health Services Dr S Palani said the baby had died in the womb, the family claimed doctors had declared the baby healthy during check-up.

C Bommi (20) from Thiruma Nagar near Cuddalore village in ECR, was married to Thyagarajan, resident of Avadi. She had been living with her parents during pregnancy and would visit Koovathur PHC for check-ups.

On Wednesday at 5 am, Bommi got labour pain and was taken to the Koovathur PHC. Police said since the duty doctor was yet to reach, nurse Muthu kumari and midwife Priya, along with two helpers, tried to perform delivery. While they began pulling out the baby, its head and torso got separated. Bommi was rushed to Chengalpattu government hospital.

Dr S Palani later said that the group performed a vaginal delivery on Bommi since they were unaware of the baby’s intrauterine death. He added that a five-member committee is conducting an enquiry. Bommi’s elder brother Arun Pandian filed a complaint with Koovathur police. The incident triggered protests from Bommi’s kin, who staged an agitation alleging medical negligence and demanded action against the health centre doctors.