Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): A preliminary inquiry into the death of a pregnant lady from South Kashmir’s Anantnag who was tested Covid-19 positive after her body was handed over to her family, has hinted at the brazen violation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) even as the final report of the probe is still awaited.
Sources privy to the inquiry team told NVI that treatment to the woman with twin pregnancy from Kokernag area of Anantnag district was delayed and rules were ignored at the maternity hospital where she was taken. The woman was tested positive for Covid-19 on the day of her death (i.e. yesterday) but her body was already handed over to her family before the reports came in. The woman reached Maternity and Childcare Hospital (MCH) Anantnag on April 24.
The first violation of the SOP framed by the J&K government was that the woman was supposed to be treated at her own village in Kharpora area of Kokernag, which has been already declared as a red zone.
As per the SOP, the pregnant women in red zones shall be enlisted and they shall be managed at health centers established in red and buffer zones.
The SOP also stated that all asymptomatic pregnant women shall be tested one week before the expected date of delivery (EDD) using rapid antibody tests. “But it was not done in this case,” sources said.
A doctor, requesting anonymity, said that the deceased woman wasn’t kept in the isolation ward and she came in contact with dozens of patients and attendants at Maternity Childcare Hospital (MCH) Anantnag.
“She was taken to labour room and before treating her, doctors and paramedical staff had to literally beg for safety gears,” the doctor said. “No SOP was followed as her samples for Covid-19 should have been taken before seven days whether she was symptomatic or asymptomatic. But her samples were taken on the same day when she had already died.”
Pertinently, soon after her death, her family members alleged that doctors were hesitant to treat her as she was from a red zone area which led to her death. The woman delivered two stillborn babies. Soon after allegations, an inquiry committee was constituted and asked to submit its report within three days.
What is more surprising is that the body of the woman was handed over to her family members for last funeral before the final reports came in.
“Authorities should have kept her body in a mortuary till her Covid report would have come. But her body was given to her family and at least 100 women participated in her burial bath besides hundreds of people assembled at her house for condolences and dozens offered her funeral,” said a neighbor of the deceased woman.
Principal Government Medical College Dr Showkat Jeelani said that three doctors, two nurses and few medicos were immediately asked to go under home quarantine after the death of the lady. To query about the fate of inquiry, he said that the process is on and once it will be completed, details will be shared. “If anybody is found involved in negligence, action will be taken,” he said.
Talking to NVI, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor J&K, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar said that the death of the pregnant woman is being inquired into. “If any doctor or a para-medical staff is found involved in violation of SoP, action will follow,” he said. “The final inquiry report is expected by tomorrow,” he addded.
