The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a reminder to the Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary to submit the required action-taken report (ATR) on the death of a woman and her newborn baby allegedly due to medical negligence within four weeks failing which he would be summoned to appear before the commission personally.
Taking up a petition filed by Angul-based Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain who alleged that one Jystona Singha who was admitted at the Ramnagar PHC in Mahakalpada after developing labour pain, died at the PHC along with her baby due to negligence of the treating doctor on October 31, 2014.
“The doctor at the PHC referred the woman to the CHC and left the hospital. However, the woman could not be shifted and died after delivering the baby. later, the baby also died,” the petitioner contended. Though the commission issued notice to the Chief Secretary on December 30, 2014 the Home Department has asked the Health Department Principal Secretary to submit the action-taken report.
However, since then no such report was submitted to the commission.
Upset over the negligence, the commission issued a final reminder to the Principal Secretary, Health Department.
“Issue reminder to the Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary to submit the required report on the subject within four weeks. positively, failing which the commission may be constrained to issue coercive process under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993,” said the latest order of the commission on December 4.