Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad (SHP)

Hyderabad, Dec 23: In a possible case of medical negligence, doctors from Achampet Hospital in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool, left the body of a foetus inside the mother’s womb after its head was severed from the body during delivery. The issue came to light after the patient was referred to the Petlaburj Maternity Hospital in Hyderabad where doctors found only the body of the child inside the mother’s womb. The outcome of the failed delivery at Achampet Hospital caused the family to ransack the hospital and stage a protest.

According to reports, 23-year-old Swathi from Nadimpally village was admitted at the Achampet Hospital on December 18. Swathi and family were informed that it would be a normal delivery and the doctors had not mentioned any other complications.

“I was given an injection and soon after I was taken into the labour room, the duty doctor Sudha Rani, who was assisting the delivery, called in two other male doctors to assess the situation. After a while, they told my relatives that the situation was complicated and we need to rush to the maternity hospital at Petlaburj. They did not tell what the issue was or that the baby’s head was severed,” Swathi said.

Unlike many reports that suggest that the baby’s head was severed during a C-section at the Achampet Hospital, it was a normal delivery. However, while the baby's head severed, the body retracted into the womb. But, the doctors did not disclose this fact to Swathi who was then referred to Petlaburj hospital, 150 km away from Nagarkurnool. As per the mother, the Achampet doctors had claimed her condition turned critical and therefore she was required to go to Hyderabad.

Swathi’s kin also alleged that it was only after reaching Hyderabad they realized the baby’s body was left inside Swathi’s womb.

“The doctors at Achampet told she was in a serious condition and that the baby could not be saved. We rushed to Petlaburj hospital where the doctors performed a C-section where they found only the torso of the baby inside the womb,” one of Swathi’s kin told media.

After the ordeal, Swathi's kin poured their outburst on the Achampet hospital, the relatives damaged the furniture during which a police constable was also injured. Nagarkurnool district collector and District Medical Health Officer (DMHO) K Sudhakar Lal took note of the situation and realizing lapse on the part of the Achampet hospital authorities, placed hospital superintendent Tara Singh and doctor Sudha Rani under suspension.

Meanwhile, the DMHO Sudhakar stated that investigation on the matter whether the baby was stillborn or died because the head was severed from the body was underway.

“An enquiry committee was set up on Saturday and we have sent the head to a forensic lab to ascertain the cause of death. The ultrasound report of the patient had suggested that the baby has congenital problems because of which she was rushed to the labour room. We are yet to confirm if the baby was stillborn as the doctors claim or if the head was severed when they tried to pull the infant out of the womb,” he said.

Swathi is out of danger and her condition is stable, the DMHO added.