Panel to probe ‘mishandling’ of foetus at PGI

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 3

The PGIMER administration has constituted a committee to inquire into the alleged negligence in handling a 24-week-old aborted foetus.

According to information, the foetus was sent to mortuary for autopsy on December 26 to get specific diagnosis about the medical condition of the foetus. However, workers of the autopsy department saw the foetus “breathing”, following which they raised the alarm and the foetus was sent back to the gynaecology department where it was declared dead after some time.

A committee has been constituted to ascertain the facts after the issue came to the fore and Dr A Rajwanshi (Dean, Academics) will head the committee, official spokesperson said.

A pregnant woman had filed a petition in the high court to abort her 24-week foetus following medical complications with the unborn. On the directions of the high court, a medical board was also constituted which gave its approval to abort the foetus.

An official of the institute said it was not a case of medical negligence and the doctors should have waited for some time before sending the foetus for autopsy.

Meanwhile, the PGI Employees’ Union said that they brought the incident to the notice of five senior-most officers of the PGI administration on December 27, but no action was taken against the guilty. On the one hand, the official spokesman termed the incident as very serious and claimed that an inquiry had been ordered and action would be taken against the guilty, but, on the other hand, three doctors threatened mortuary staff with dire consequences, including termination of services.

What had happened

The foetus was sent to mortuary for autopsy on December 26 to get specific diagnosis about the medical condition of the foetus. However, workers of the autopsy department saw the foetus “breathing”, following which they raised the alarm and the foetus was sent back to the gynaecology department where it was declared dead after some time.