Rights body sends notice to MBMC

Mumbai: Taking suo-moto cognisance of the alarming incident where a woman (26) became the victim of unethical medical conduct and ended up giving birth in a crowded local train, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has sought clarification from the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) and the Directorate of Health on these ambiguities.

After going into labour in the early hours of October 25, 2018, Surekha Waaghe was refused admission in two healthcare facilities, including the MBMC-run Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Hospital (Tembha) in Bhayandar and Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali.

Her husband, Sushil Waaghe, was left with no option but to board the local train with her and head toward a hospital in Mumbai Central.

However, Ms Waaghe delivered a baby girl inside the local train compartment itself as the train approached Dadar station. With the help of Railway Police Force (RPF) personnel, Mr Waaghe somehow rushed his profusely bleeding wife to KEM Hospital, where doctors cut the umbilical cord of the extremely underweight newborn and admitted her to the hospital’s intensive care unit.

The incident, which grabbed the attention of national media, prompted the SHRC to intervene and issue notice to the concerned authorities.

Meanwhile, social crusader, Milan Mhatre, too, intervened in the case, highlighting the deplor-able healthcare infrastructure and the flaws in the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation’s implementation of the judiciary’s orders pertaining to the functioning of the civic hospital in Bhayandar.