Assam Doctor Questioned Over 21 C-Sections in 10 Hours

Speedy Summary

• A senior gynaecologist,Dr.Kantheswar Bordoloi, at Morigaon Civil Hospital in Assam performed 21 C-section surgeries within a 10-hour span on September 5-6.
• Authorities issued a show-cause notice citing concerns over sterilisation protocols and inadequate preoperative and postoperative documentation for maternal and infant safety.
• The Additional district Commissioner (Health) directed Dr. Bordoloi to submit detailed reports for each case, addressing surgical preparations, infection control measures, foetal distress cases, and assisting staff duties within three days.
• Dr. Bordoloi defended his actions stating his experience enabled efficient surgeries without compromising safety protocols and explained the operating theaterS capacity with two tables aided in maintaining sterility standards.
• Out of the 21 patients operated on during this period, 19 mothers and infants were discharged in stable condition while two remained hospitalised.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The issuance of a show-cause notice underscores critical concerns about balancing efficiency with adherence to medical safety protocols in healthcare delivery under challenging conditions like resource constraints or high patient influxes. While Dr. Bordoloi claims competence based on years of experience and points out favorable outcomes for most patients (19 out of 21 discharged stably), the lack of detailed preoperative/postoperative documentation raises questions about accountability mechanisms essential for ensuring compliance with infection control practices to mitigate risks such as maternal/infant morbidity.

The broader issue lies in whether systemic challenges-such as staffing shortages or infrastructure limitations-contribute to situations requiring extraordinary efforts by individual doctors like bulk surgical procedures without fully documented safeguards. This case sheds light on ongoing gaps within India’s public healthcare system that warrants systemic advancement alongside evaluating incidents individually.read More