Chhattisgarh Court Ruling on Woman Giving Birth on Hospital Floor

The High Court directed the Health Department secretary to submit a personal affidavit following an incident at Navanagar SHC on June 8. The incident occurred in the absence of doctors and nurses, as reported by a newspaper. The woman in labor was forced to deliver her baby on the health center floor, assisted by a community health worker and later cared for by a traditional midwife, as no medical staff were available.

The court expressed concern over the state of medical facilities and the absence of responsible personnel at the health center, emphasizing the need for stringent measures to address the situation. The court was informed that the concerned medical officer had been suspended and an inquiry had been ordered. However, there were discrepancies in the reported absence of the nurse due to an accident, and no supporting documents had been filed.

The bench directed the Health and Social Welfare Department secretary to file a personal affidavit on the steps taken regarding the incident and to ensure that the viral video of the incident is stopped from being circulated. Additionally, the secretary was instructed to inform the court about any steps taken to assign another Medical Officer to the health center. The incident led to the suspension of the Block Medical Officer of the area, Dr. PN Rajwade, the next day for prima facie negligence.

The news report had highlighted the recurring nature of such incidents at the health center. (*Note: This story is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by NDTV staff, except for the headline. *)