NHRC notice to the Government of Gujarat over the reported death of a mother and her newborn due to C-section surgery by a drunken doctor in Botad Government hospital (28.11.2018)



New Delhi, 28th November, 2018

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that a drunken doctor performed a C-section of a woman in an advance stage of pregnancy leading to the death of both the mother and her child at Government run Sonawala hospital in Botad, Gujarat on the 26th November, 2018.

The Commission has observed that the incident, if true, amounts to gross violation of human rights of the victims. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Government of Gujarat calling for a detailed report in the matter as well as the status of the criminal case registered against the concerned doctor within four weeks.

The Commission has also observed that doctors are always expected to maintain high standards of professionalism and devotion to duty but in the instant case, it appears that the concerned doctor had shown carelessness and criminal negligence by performing a C-section of a woman in an inebriated condition.

According to the media reports, carried today on the 28th November, 2018, the police have arrested the alleged erring doctor on the complaint of the victims’ relatives. His blood sample has been sent for testing as at the time of his arrest he was found drunk.

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