CM Mayavati suspends 2 doctors for refusing Delevery to pregnant HIV+ woman in Meerut, UP

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Kodos to Ms Mayavati, the CM of UP state. It is strict action of this type from

those in power that is going to create change in the HIV scenario in this

country.

Aditya Bondyopadhyay

E-MAIL:<adit.bond@...>

Lucknow, June 29

Chief Minister Mayawati tonight suspended two doctors of Lala Lajpat Rai Medical

College in Meerut where an HIV positive woman was denied institutional delivery

by the doctors. The two doctors who were suspended are head of the gynaecology

and obstetrics department Dr Abhilasha Gupta and junior doctor Dr Urmila.

The prompt decision brought some relief to the harassed family, which went

through a traumatic experience last night when the father had to act as midwife

and deliver a baby boy in the labour room. The shocking incident involving the

doctors of the college not only makes a mockery of the multi-crore rupee AIDS

awareness programme, but also shows how health care is denied to even those who

try to access it.

The 27-year-old woman already has three daughters. She is clueless about how she

became HIV positive. Her husband is HIV negative. She was aware of her HIV

status and was already under treatment.

The doctors refused to handle the case and reportedly kept instructing the

father how to deliver the child. He was forced to cut the umbical cord, deliver

the placenta and clean the baby when the doctors present on the scene refused to

touch the patient.

According to the husband, the doctors refused to treat her, as they said that

she could infect other patients and doctors. Around 8 p.m. on Thursday, the

pregnant woman's husband Prakash brought her to the emergency ward of the

hospital as she was in labour and wanted to be admitted for delivery. As soon

as the husband wheeled in his wife into the female ward, the doctor in charge

said that as the patient was HIV positive, she could not deliver in the

hospital. " I kept pleading to the doctor to take care of her as I had nowhere

to go so late at night. " But the doctors refused to relent. The hapless husband

approached Dr Gupta, who also refused to help. " By then, the baby's head had

already approached and I had no choice but to assist her in delivering the child

with verbal instructions from those present in the delivery room, " charged the

father. In the morning, the father informed the doctor who was treating her

wife for HIV ailment, who, in turn, asked him to lodge a formal complaint.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070630/main5.htm

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

CM Mayavati deserves all salutes and appreciations. The incident clearly shows

that the doctors though have sfficient information about the spread of the

disease and universal precautions to be taken pretend to be ignorant and refuse

to treat.

I feel stringent action against such doctors will be a lesson to other

members of the medical fraternity.

I cannot imagine the proffesion known for its nobility and humanity will become

so cruel.

Dr K.G.Kulkarni

e-mail: kulkarnikg@...