Tejinder sodhi
Baramulla: A ray of hope lit in her eyes when after 14 long years of marriage; doctors told her that she is Pregnant. Razia (name changed) who hails from a far off village of Badrah in district Baramulla was married to a handicapped person in the 1989. For last 14 years she was never pregnant and this time luckily she became pregnant. On hearing this news all the members of Razia’s family rejoiced and celebrated. But the family was not aware that this is only a happiness that will soon be turned into a painful and never forgettable memory
She was under treatment of a lady doctor posted at Baramulla District Hospital, finally the delivery date came and the concerned doctor admitted her in the hospital. When the time of delivery came the lady doctor suddenly disappeared to attend another patient in her private clinic, on the other hand some complications grew in the delivery of Razia’s child, some other doctor was called and she gave birth to a male child. All the family was happy and forgot what the lady doctor did in the time of need, but they did not know that their happiness is suddenly going to turn into a nightmare. Due to the abnormal delivery the new born child developed some complicacies and an immediate treatment started in the hospital, after treating the child for two days the doctors at Baramulla District Hospital found the condition of the child is worsening day by day. The child was referred to Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura. The child was treated there for seven days and on the ninth day of his birth the child died. This news brought disappointment and agony in the family of Razia.
The doctors at SKIMS told Razia that the death of the child is due to the negligence of the Doctor at the time of delivery as the doctor who was treating Razia was aware of the complicacies that might arise during the time of delivery.
Razia and her husband went to the lady doctor, she was not ready to take the responsibility and some how she managed to get the prescription chits from Razia, according to Razia, “She (doctor) asked me hand over the chits to her as she will investigate the matter I handed them to her, when after two days we went to her she refused to have taken the chits and said that she never knew me and I was not being treated by her.”
Family of Razia made many complaints but all in vain. About a year has passed to this incidence but still the family of Razia is waiting for justice and no one is ready to take the responsibility.
“The lady doctor played with not only the life of my child but also with my life and my husband’s. after 14 years I became mother but the doctors ignorance took my child away from me, if she would had asked me for money, I could have arranged it anyhow.” Says Razia with Tear filled eyes.
Razia is not the only victim of the mismanagement of the Baramulla District hospital but many have lost their lives and many have suffered while under treatment in this hospital.
On one hand the state government is making huge claims to improve the health standard in the state and on the other hand such is the condition of patients in a District hospital. It will be a bias not to mention that there are some doctors in this hospital who care for patients very much. But one can get the impression of the hospital from the fact that the BUMS doctors who are supposed to assist the MBBS doctors prescribe medicines to the patients.
When this reporter tried to contact the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital he was told that the officer is not allowed to speak to any press people as of a circular issued by the department.