Baby dies after nurse-aided delivery in Karur

According to sources, S Rajeswari (26), the pregnant wife of Saravanan (32)-who worked as a construction labourer and resided in Naganur near Thogamalai in Karur district, went to the Thogamalai Health Sub-Centre while nearing childbirth and was admitted there for the past two days. Around 6 pm on Tuesday, Rajeswari developed labour pain, and nurses at the health centre attended to her as there was no doctor present, sources said. A few minutes later, Rajeswari delivered a boy, but after a short while, the newborn reportedly died due to complications in therespiratory system.

However, nurses at the health sub-centre did not inform of the baby’s death to the parents.

Around 7 pm that day, nurses told Rajeswari’s husband Saravanan that the baby had difficulty breathing and that the newborn needed immediate medical care. They then asked the couple to rush the baby to Manapparai Government Hospital. The health centre staff even contacted the 108-ambulance service and sent both the mother and the baby to Manapparai, sources said.

When the doctors at Manapparai GH examined Rajeswari and the baby, they informed the newborn’s parents that the baby had already died and reportedly also suggested to conduct the last rites. They also suggested taking back Rajeswari to the health sub-centre where she initially underwent treatment, sources said.

Shocked by this, Rajeswari’s husband and relatives rushed back to the health sub-centre along with Rajeswari and broke into a quarrel with the nurses there, arguing that the baby died due to treatment by the nurses following no doctors available. The irate relatives, besieging the health centre, then raised slogans against the nurses.

On information, Kulithalai DSP Sukumar rushed to the spot and asked the protesting crowd to admit Rajeswari to the Manapparai GH for post-delivery care. However, the irate relatives refused to move from the spot. Later, upon assurance by the DSP that action would be initiated through the Health department, the crowd dispersed from the spot onTuesday midnight.