Chittur (Palakkad): At times public hospital authorities tersely refuse to take up complicated cases and order to rush them to better facilities elsewhere. A few dedicated medical professionals at the Chittur taluk hospital stand out for their exemplary conduct by accompanying a gravely ill pregnant woman to two other hospitals, including a private one, as her husband tried to ensure emergeny care frantically.
Gynaecologist Dr R Sreeja and anaesthetist Dr Jaimini of the taluk hospital couldn't admit Sandhya, 27, the wife of C Sivan of Vandithavalam, as it lacked enough facilities owing to the ongoing maintenance and modernisation work.
Sandhya was wheeled in for her second delivery on January 10. By night she had heavy bleeding and her blood pressure dropped, landing her in a critical condition.
Since she required specialist medical care it was decided by 10.30 pm that she should be shifted to the district hospital. As there was fluctuation in her blood pressure, she was put in an ambulance with all emergency facilities.
Considering the gravity of the case, Dr Sreeja and Dr Jaimini decided to accompany the pregnant woman and her husband in their bid to admit her elsewhere. Soon, nursing staff A Anishu and R Ranjush also tagged along.
First they went to the district Government Women and Children Hospital but here the ventilators were already occupied. Subsequently, on the request of Sivan, his wife was shifted to a private hospital in Palakkad. Even at that time the doctors and nurses from the taluk hospital remained with the patient. Also, house surgeon Mohammad Aslam of the district hospital also joined them in the ambulance.
Notably, the five government medical professionals even waited for Sandhya's delivery that night on the premises of the private facility.
Fortunately, after reaching the private hospital Sandhya's blood pressure was brought to normal level. At 12.20 am she had a normal delivery. A baby girl was born in the presence of the doctors of the district hospital and the private hospital.
Sandhya and Sivan say that there are no words to thank the doctors and the nursing staff.
Though what the doctors did could be termed as their duty, not many in the medical profession would show this kind of empathy with the patients, Sivan said.
