A 22-year-old pregnant woman in India delivered her baby while standing in the queue for a coronavirus test. According to reports, she was refused admission to the hospital till she cleared the virus test
The woman, Palak, was in labour when she arrived at the hospital but was asked to go to the area where tests are done. She could hardly stand and later collapsed delivering the baby on the spot.
The incident created panic and the medical staff shifted the woman and the newborn to a ward.
An investigation into the incident has been ordered by the institute while a faculty member, two senior and two junior residents of the obstetrics and gynaecology department have been asked to go off duty.
The woman’s husband, Raman Dixit, a daily wager, told reporters that Palak was nine months pregnant and labour pains started after which he took her to the hospital.
“However, staff in the emergency ward of gynaecology did not admit her and told them that she first needed to undergo a COVID-19 test, as per protocol. The test costs Rs1,500 (around PKR 3,000). I was not carrying much cash. I made my wife stand along with a relative in the queue for the COVID-19 test and went home to bring the money. When I returned, I found that my wife had already given birth and was admitted to the ward,” said Raman.
Dr Srikesh Singh, the spokesperson of the hospital, said that the woman and her baby are doing fine.
Officiating Director, Prof Nuzhat Hussain, said: “A three-member committee will submit its report on the incident in three days. Till then, the five staff members will remain off duty. The head of obstetrics and gynaecology has been asked to explain why instead of providing emergency care when the woman was in labour pain, she was sent for COVID-19 testing.”
