Kota C-section deaths: 1 doc dismissed, another suspended, 2 nurses shifted out

Jaipur/Kota: The state medical education department Saturday dismissed a doctor from service and suspended three healthcare staff members after a preliminary inquiry found serious lapses in patient care protocols. The action comes after the death of two women and the critical condition of several others following caesarean deliveries at a govt hospital in Kota.

Assistant professor Dr Shraddha Upadhyay, serving on an urgent temporary basis, was dismissed from service, while associate professor and operation theatre in-charge Dr Navneet Kumar was suspended. Senior nursing officer Gurjot Kaur and labour room in-charge Nimesh Verma were suspended and transferred to Jaipur for alleged negligence of duty, failure to follow prescribed medical protocols and lapses in patient monitoring.

Show-cause notices were issued to obstetrics and gynaecology unit heads Dr BL Pateedar and Dr Neha Seehra over possible negligence in supervision, treatment monitoring, post-operative surveillance, coordination and overall medical management.

Following the first death and the critical condition of five other women Tuesday, the state govt had ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident and promised strict action against any officer, doctor or staff member found guilty of negligence. A second woman from among the five in critical condition died the next day, resulting in protests from the families of the patients.

Medical education commissioner Babulal Goyal reached Kota Friday and reviewed the sequence of events. He collected information from doctors, nursing staff and hospital administrators and assessed treatment arrangements at the hospital.

Principal secretary (Medical Education) Gayatri Rathore said Saturday that the preliminary inquiry found serious negligence in medical protocols and procedures, prima facie, prompting immediate departmental action.

The health department also directed the hospital administration to carry out a comprehensive review of operation theatre management, anaesthesia protocols, drug distribution system and post-operative monitoring arrangements, and to implement immediate corrective measures wherever necessary. It ordered steps to fix accountability, strengthen supervision and improve medical quality control systems to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

Instructions were issued to continuously monitor the condition of all expectant mothers admitted to the hospital and ensure the best possible treatment under specialist supervision.