ITANAGAR, Jul 7: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to take necessary action against the doctor/EMO and paramedical staff concerned for their alleged negligence that led to the death of a newborn on 27 April at the Namsai CHC.
In a notice it issued to the chief secretary, the NHRC also directed him to submit a report regarding the action taken against the guilty doctor(s)/paramedical staff within six weeks.
The commission while recommending monetary compensation to the alleged victim, Nang Alenthi Mokrun (mother of the newborn baby), also issued a notice to the state government to show cause as to why the commission should not recommend monetary compensation to the victim.
Earlier, the NHRC, taking cognizance of a complaint lodged by the Arunachal Pradesh unit of the North East Human Rights Organization (NEHRO) had sought a report from the chief secretary on the matter of the alleged medical negligence that led to death of the newborn.
The matter was taken up during an open hearing which was held here by the NHRC on 25 May, during which Health Services Director Dr M Lego had appeared before the commission and submitted his report.
The commission perused the report, dated 18.05.2018, which was accompanied by another report submitted by a four-member fact-finding team (FFT).
“It is concluded in the report that the fact-finding team is of the opinion that the doctor/EMO should have attended the labour cases on 26.04.2018 evening at the time of admission; but it was not done, which reflects the carelessness of the doctor. It is also observed by the FFT that on 27.04.2018 the EMO attended the labour case at 6 am and conducted the delivery but the foetus could not be revived even after resuscitation. The perusal shows that the report indicates the negligence committed by the doctor/EMO, who did not attend the patient within time,” the commission observed.
“It is a clear case of violation of the human rights of the stillborn baby and its mother. The affected mother, who suffered from mental and physical agony, deserves to be compensated,” the commission opined.
Meanwhile, the state unit of the NEHRO has appealed to the chief secretary for prompt and appropriate action against the doctor/EMO concerned.
