Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 7: High Court today issued notice to the Government and sought a status report with regard to establishing separate maternity centers for pregnant women and children equipped with all facilities and trained staff.
The petitioner submitted that there is dire requirement of maternity hospitals in each and every district with full equipment and staff for providing necessary treatment to pregnant women and children as the non-availability of the same has made the life of pregnant women and unborn children vulnerable.
Giving the reference of recent incidents which have taken life of pregnant women due to medical negligence, the petitioner also sought strict direction for magisterial enquiry and registering of FIR, if any incident of medical negligence happens.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjay Dhar issued notice to the Health and Medical Education Department through its Commission/Secretary for filing of status report in the matter.
Petitioner has mentioned recent incidents happened with pregnant women which include a pregnant woman from Anantnag denied admission in two hospitals, Ambulance denied to dead pregnant woman from Anantnag, pregnant woman denied treatment at Handwara hospital and a COVID-19 pregnant woman delivered a baby inside a quarantine centre without any medical facility.
He has given one more reference of alleged medical negligence in district Budgam a few days ago in which a woman died after giving birth to a child in which DC Budgam also ordered a probe.
One more alleged medical negligence case from SKIMS has been referred in the petition whereby a lady suffering from brain haemorrhage did not get the attention of doctors compelling her family to shift her to a private hospital.
Petitioner sought directions from the court for departmental and disciplinary action against the erring officials and employees as also compensation for such patients by deducting the salary of erring officials of the department on account of their medical negligence.
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