Two doctors and the in-charge of the 108 Ambulance services in Capital Hospital here on Thursday deposed before the State Commission for Women (SCW) in connection with the death of a destitute pregnant woman at the Capital Hospital on Sunday allegedly due to negligence of the hospital authorities.
The commission had served summons to the three on Tuesday after a four-member team led by commission Chairperson lopamudra Buxipatra found prima facie evidence of their complicity in the incident during the preliminary investigations.
The SCW had initiated an inquiry into the incident following a report on a TV channel on Monday.
The destitute pregnant woman from Astarang in Puri district had been admitted to the hospital on June 28. Finding her condition to be critical, the doctors on duty sent her to the SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack for better treatment through a 108 Ambulance.
But surprisingly, the woman was found groaning in pain by some eunuchs near the Durga Puja Mandap at Nayapalli here on June 29. The latter informed the Ruchika Helpline which rescued the woman and got her admitted again to the Capital Hospital at about 5 pm.
The Ruchika Helpline alleged that the woman was left unattended at the hospital for nearly six hours and died at about 11 pm with her unborn child dying in her womb much before her death.
Sources said the Capital Hospital authorities are trying their level best to cover up the incident as the doctor on duty between 9 pm and 11 pm on the fateful day happens to be the sister of a Minister.
However, Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak has sought a report from the Director of Health Services on the incident and warned against repeat of such incidents