4 suspended as 8 women die due to botched surgeries in Chhattisgarh

Four health officials, including a senior surgeon and a Chief Medical Health Officer, were today suspended in connection with the death of eight women, who succumbed to botched surgeries held at a government-organised sterilisation camp in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district.

"Chief Medical and Health Officer, Bilaspur Dr R K Bhange, laparoscopic surgeon Dr R K Gupta, State Programme Convener, family planning Dr K C Urao and Block Medical Officer (BMP), Takhatpur Dr Pramod Tiwari have been suspended," Chief Minister Raman Singh said today after visiting women hospitalised at various facilities.

Also, the CM has issued directives to register an FIR against Dr R K Gupta, under whose supervision the camp was held and the surgeries were performed.

Not ruling out negligence on the part of doctors, Singh promised stern action against those found guilty after the probe.

"Its a very unfortunate incident. Prime facie it appears that incident occurred due to negligence (by doctors). A detailed enquiry will be conducted into it keeping in view all the angles, including the quality of the medicines at the camp, standard of the surgery, post operatives measures and others," Singh said.

A three member committee has been constituted to investigate the incident, he said.

Besides, Singh increased the compensation amount to Rs 4 lakh from Rs 2 lakh, announced earlier to the kin of each of the victims.

Compensation of Rs 50,000 and free treatment will be provided to those who are hospitalised.

Eight women died and 52 others have been hospitalised after undergoing surgeries at the sterilisation camp held under national family planning programme at a private hospital in Pendari village on outskirts of Bilaspur town on November 8.

About 83 women had undergone surgeries at the camp held at Nemichand Jain Cancer and Research Centre at Pendari in Takhatpur region.

The women were discharged after providing medicines on Saturday night but within 24 hours of the surgery, most of them complained of vomiting and abdominal pain following which 60 of them were rushed to different hospitals. Out of them eight died after their condition deteriorated, Bilaspur Collector Siddharth Komal Pardeshi told PTI today.

The deceased were all below 32 years of age. The condition of at least 10 others was stated to be critical, officials said.

All women were residents of nearby villages.  During treatment, two of them -- Janaki Bai (26) and Dipti Yadav (27) -- who were admitted to Bilaspur district hospital passed away yesterday, the collector said.

Other victims Rekha Nirmalkar, Nembai Suryawanshi, Ranjita, Phool Bai and Chandra Bai, admitted to the Apollo hospital, died last night after their condition worsened, the Collector said.

The identity of one of the victims is still not known. Preliminary examinations suggested that hypovolemic shock or a septic infection may be the cause of death, Deputy Director, Health Services, Amar Singh said, adding that a detailed autopsy report would reveal the exact reason behind the deaths.