NHRC slaps show cause on Odisha govt over death of new born in govt hospital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 19:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show cause notice to the Odisha government as to why monetary relief of Rs one lakh not be recommended for payment to the next of kin of a new born child who died due to negligence of the staff of the Jajpur district headquarters hospital.

The Commission has sought a response from the state chief secretary within four weeks in the matter.

It may be recalled that a child born to Manorama Jena, wife of Abhimanyu Jena of Garedeswar village in Jajpur district died immediately after birth on April 8 due to alleged negligence of the medical staff in the labour room of the district headquarters hospital.

Manorama Jena was admitted to the district headquarters hospital for delivery on the morning on April 8, 2014.The doctor sent her to the Labour Room, but the nurse on duty did not attend to her, saying there was time left for the delivery.

Writhing in severe pain Manorama delivered a boy child at about 2.30 pm. In the absence of the nurse, the new-born fell from the table into a water-filled bucket and died.

Young lawyer and human rights activist Prabir Kumar Das had lodged a complaint with the NHRC in the matter and had contended therein that the shocking death of the new born inside the Labour Room was due to the negligence of the nurse at the government hospital, which was tantamount to violation of ‘right to life’ under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The Commission had sought a report from the district magistrate in the matter.

After considering the material placed on record, the Commission observed that negligence of the hospital staff in taking care of the patients is writ large in the circumstances, which admits to death of a new born child due to un-explained head injuries.