26-year-old dies post-delivery in TVM; family alleges medical negligence at SAT Hospital

Thiruvananthapuram: The family of a 26-year-old woman who died while undergoing treatment post-delivery at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital (MCH) has accused the SAT Hospital for Women and Children of medical negligence.

The deceased, Shivapriya, a native of Karikkakam,  delivered her second child — a baby boy — at SAT Hospital on October 22 through a normal delivery. She was discharged three days later, on October 25. However, she developed a fever soon after returning home and was taken back to the hospital the following day.

“Her condition worsened due to an infection, and she was shifted to the multi-speciality wing of the Medical College Hospital. She was in the ICU for two days and was later placed on a ventilator after her oxygen levels dropped. By Sunday noon, doctors informed us that she had passed away,”  her brother Shivaprasad told Onmanorama.

He alleged that the infection originated from the stitches after delivery. “The infection spread to her bloodstream and lungs. We understood it was caused by Acinetobacter, which she may have contracted from the hospital environment,” he said, adding that she had faced no complications during her first delivery two and a half years ago.

“Initially, she was conscious, but her condition gradually deteriorated. The last thing she said was to take her home. She was in severe pain, and her body had started swelling,” he recalled.

“Two days before her death, doctors said she had pneumonia. Today, they mentioned blood clots in her lungs. Soon after, they told us her heartbeat had stopped, and CPR was being administered. And then, they said she was no more,” he added.

Visibly distraught, Shivaprasad said the family is struggling to cope with the loss. “Her baby spent only a few days with his mother. She could feed him just once after being discharged,” he said.

Shivapriya is survived by her husband, Manu, a welder, and their two children, Shivanetra and the newborn.

Meanwhile, SAT Hospital Superintendent Dr Bindu S refuted the allegations. “The infection appears to be local. If it had been contracted during her hospital stay, symptoms such as fever would have developed much earlier. She developed a fever and diarrhoea only after returning home. Moreover, no other patients admitted to the labour room on the days before, during, or after her delivery have reported similar infections. Hence, prima facie, there is no lapse on the hospital’s part,” Dr Bindu told Onmanorama. She also noted that the patient was readmitted with low blood pressure.

Shivapriya's relatives and her natives have also begun a protest in front of the hospital, demanding an investigation into the incident.