Two doctors arrested on medical negligence charge

ALAPPUZHA: Two doctors were arrested here on Saturday on the charge of medical negligence in connection with the death of a woman six days after being delivered of a baby boy in 2008.

An expert committee appointed by the Health Department found Vasantha, 75, and Phenoljenma, 65, guilty of negligence. K.M. Tomy, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Cherthala, arrested the doctors. They were let off on bail. The two attended on Jessy, 31, wife of Shaji of Kadakarapally, during labour at a private hospital at Thanki Junction, near Cherthala, on August 8, 2008. It was a normal delivery and she was discharged on August 11. In the morning of August 14, she showed signs of severe fatigue and shivers and was rushed to the hospital.

Her condition worsened and she died while being shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha. Mr. Shaji filed a complaint with the police, alleging medical negligence.

The expert committee found that the two doctors had not followed the mandatory post-delivery procedures and left the foetal remains in the uterus. Jessy had died of septicaemia (life-threatening infection).