Absent doctor,nurses booked after woman, child die at delivery

Salem (TN),Jan 21 (PTI):A doctor and five nurses have beenbooked on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murderand causing death by negligence following the death of amother and her baby at a Primary Health Centre after it wasdelivered in the absence of a medical practitioner,police said

In the absence of the duty doctor, the nurses at the PHC atVandavasi in the district carried out the delivery yesterdayon Vidya (20), who gave birth to a still born child,they said.

The doctor and nurses have been booked under Sections 304(culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 304 A (causingdeath by negligence) of the IPC, John Nicholson,Superintendent of Police, said.

He said the Vandavasi PHC has only two doctors, one ofwhom is away attending a training programme while the otherwas on leave.