Family of the Kupwara woman, who delivered a stillborn baby on roadside here last month after she was denied admission at Lal Ded hospital, has accused authorities of trying to shield the accused doctors.
The family members of Suraya Begum, including her husband, Wazir Mohammad Famda and her brothers, Khan Zaman and Shahnawaz have leveled the allegations in an application before State Human Rights Commission (SHRC).
“That on 2nd of February, 2019 the superintendent of the LD hospital and principal GMC Srinagar called us ‘unfortunately’. They questioned us unnecessarily…and also tortured us,” the family members have said in the application.
“It seems the committee is not faithful regarding enquiry. The committee (is) trying to give shelter to the accused doctors and other staff members of the hospital,” it reads.
The family members have pleaded before SHRC for “judiciary enquiry proceedings” in the incident to bring facts to the fore.
Last month Suraya, a resident of remote village in Kalaroos area of Kupwara, was referred from district hospital to LD hospital. But she was denied admission at the LD. In the evening she delivered a stillborn baby on roadside in Bemina here in sub-zero temperature.
Subsequently, the commission took suo-motto cognizance of the tragic incident and issued notices to Principal GMC and medical superintendent of Lal Ded hospital.
Responding to the notice, the hospital authorities submitted action taken report into the incident, saying that as per preliminary enquiry, the doctor who had attended to the patient has been placed under suspension. A “broad based enquiry committee” was also asked to enquire the matter in its “all aspects by hearing all the stakeholders”.
The hospital authorities had apprised the Commission that the committee, comprising five doctors including MS LD hospital, would “soon” submit its report, which will be submitted to the Commission.