Rajasthan mother dies hours after delivery, family alleges negligence

The Story in Brief

A 25-year-old woman died within hours of delivering a baby at Bundi District Government Hospital on Sunday, with her family alleging medical negligence. Nisha Meena had been admitted on August 7 and advised a surgical delivery for obstructed labour, but her family requested a normal birth, principal medical officer Dr L.N. Meena said. After delivering around 11 am, she complained of severe chest pain and collapsed. The acting PMO cited suspected amniotic fluid embolism, a rare obstetric emergency. The newborn was referred to Kota's J.K. Lone Hospital. Hospital administration transferred all labour-room staff on duty and ordered a formal inquiry with a mandatory maternal death audit.

Family members and villagers created a ruckus on the premises, stopping the ambulance carrying the body to the mortuary, demanding a fair investigation. The death follows heightened scrutiny of maternal care after at least 20 women died in government hospitals across Rajasthan since May, with nine deaths in Bhilwara and Banswara over six days in early July. The state government has ordered blood centres to provide blood to pregnant women without insisting on replacement donors, and the National Human Rights Commission has sought action over alleged substandard oxytocin injections linked to maternal deaths in Kota.