Panel starts inquiry into deaths of 9 pregnant women

Jodhpur, Feb 23 (PTI) The committee constituted by the SN Medical College administration has today initiated itsinquiry into the deaths of nine pregnant women in the UmaidHospital here in past 10 days.

On the other hand, the state government has alsoconstituted a two-member panel comprising of Obstetricians(doctors who specialise in women''s health).

The divisional commissioner of Jodhpur has also sought areport from the hospital on the death of each woman.

The deaths of nine pregnant women between 13 Februarytill yesterday in Umaid Hospital and MG Hospital has triggeredpanic.

"The primary reason that has come to the fore isexcessive bleeding in all of these women, which they occurreddelivering the child," Superintendent of the Umaid HospitalNarendra Changani said.

Six women died in Umaid hospital between 13 and 16February and three others, who died in MG Hospital, were firstadmitted in Umaid Hospital but after delivering the child theydeveloped complications due to which they were shifted to MGHospital.

State Health Minister Emaduddin Khan had visited thehospital on Sunday and after talking to the doctors, hadtermed these deaths as natural.

But three more deaths have again led the hospitaladministration and the government to delve deeper to look intothe cause of these deaths.

Apparently the use of a particular batch of drug, I VFluid, that has been banned in all the hospitals of Jodhpurhas emerged as one of the cause of these deaths.