The Virudhachalam government hospital is once again under scrutiny following a tragic incident that claimed the life of a young pregnant woman. Kalpana, daughter of Radhika and a resident of Mangalam Pettai Ambedkar Nagar, tragically passed away after a cesarean operation, igniting renewed concerns about the subpar state of health infrastructure in government hospitals across Tamil Nadu.
Kalpana was admitted to the Virudhachalam government hospital for her delivery. It was reported that she was taken into the operation theatre for a cesarean operation at 9 AM on 7 August 2023. Two and a half hours later, the medical staff informed her parents that she had successfully given birth to a baby boy. However, Kalpana’s parents were denied access to their daughter.
As the newborn cried out for sustenance, Radhika wanted to give the child to the mother to be fed. Shockingly, hospital nurses prevented her from seeing her daughter. Overwhelmed by concern, Radhika ventured into the ICU section without permission, only to discover that Kalpana was not present. After repeated complaints, nurses eventually brought Kalpana back on a stretcher. However, Radhika found her daughter’s body to be unnaturally cold and unresponsive.
Efforts to revive Kalpana were in vain and it was only after an arduous struggle by Radhika and her family that doctors arrived at the scene. It was then confirmed that Kalpana had already passed away.
The incident sparked outrage among Kalpana’s relatives who gathered at the hospital to protest against the alleged negligence of the medical staff. The grieving family accused the doctors of mishandling the operation. In this situation, Virudhachalam police have taken the body for post-mortem.
This tragedy also brings to the forefront other instances of alleged negligence during the current dispensation in Tamil Nadu.
In November 2022, Priya R, a 17-year-old football player who underwent surgery to treat a ligament tear in her knee, died on the morning of 15 November 2022, as a result of multiple organ failures caused by medical negligence. It was reported that the blood flow to her right leg, where the surgery was performed, was obstructed because of the tightly bound band by doctors after the ligament surgery. The doctors at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital advised that the leg be amputated because all of the muscles in the leg were rotting. However, Priya died tragically at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai, after her health deteriorated due to multiple organ failure. 2 doctors from the orthopedics department were suspended for medical negligence.
A few days back, a video of a child using a paper cup as an oxygen mask in a government hospital in Uthiramerur in Tamil Nadu went viral, leading to questions being raised about the availability of medical equipment in the rural side of the state. The impact of the video was such that the state Health Minister had to respond, who said that the video “looks to be shot with a purpose”.
உத்திரமேரூரில் சிறுவனுக்கு டீ கப் மூலம் ஆக்ஸிஜன் சிகிச்சை!#uthiramerur #oxygenmask #teacup #hospital #uthiramerurgh pic.twitter.com/qjQ8XnbK2m
— தினமணி (@DinamaniDaily) August 1, 2023
In another such incident reported a few days ago, a one-and-a-half-year-old boy who had his hand amputated at Chennai Government Hospital died Chennai Hand amputated child died in Egmore Hospital. Parents alleged negligence by the doctors who claimed that the baby was prematurely born.
"நீங்க பண்ண தப்புக்கு என் குழந்தை தண்டனை அனுபவிச்சிருச்சு" கை அகற்றப்பட்ட குழந்தை உயிரிழப்பு.. கண்ணீருடன் கதறும் தாய்.!#Chennai #RajivGandhiHospital #திராவிடமாடல் ஆட்சியின் அவலம் @CMOTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/itbkLlm5RW
— Vibin Raj 🇮🇳 (@VibinRaj_0224) August 7, 2023
(with inputs from NewsTamil24x7)
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