Doctors absent, compounder conducts operation, woman dies

PATNA: A 28-year-old woman died during a botched-up sterilisation surgery, allegedly conducted by the compounder of a private clinic in Bihar’s Samastipur district in the absence of doctors Saturday.

Family members of the deceased, Babita Devi, protested against the medical negligence at the clinic. The compounder managed to flee. A search is on to nab him, police said Sunday.

Babita was admitted to the Anisha Health Care Centre on Patori Road around 9am on Saturday. “At first, the compounder and other staff members told the family that there was no doctor in the clinic. But after some time, the compounder convinced the family that he could perform the surgery. He then proceeded with the operation,” said Faizul Ansari, the Musrigharari station house officer.

Her condition deteriorated soon after she was taken inside the operation theatre. “She was then transferred to another private medical establishment, about 10km away, without the family’s consent. She was declared dead there, after which her body was brought back to the clinic,” said Ansari.

The enraged family started protesting outside the clinic and demanded the immediate arrest of medical staff and the clinic’s owner-cum-doctor, who was supposed to conduct the surgery. A complaint has been registered against the doctor, medical staff and the clinic. Further investigation is underway, Ansari said.