Argus News - From Labor Pain to Nightmare: Newborn Lost, Mother’s Life Saved

Uttar Pradesh, Apr 14: A shocking case of medical negligence has emerged from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh, raising serious concerns about rural healthcare facilities. At the Kudraha Community Health Center (CHC), a 27-year-old woman narrowly escaped death during childbirth, while her newborn tragically lost its life due to alleged mishandling by hospital staff.

On April 8, Prema Devi, wife of Neeraj Kumar from Muradpur village, went into labor. As her family rushed her to the CHC by ambulance, the baby’s legs began to emerge—a clear sign of a breech delivery, considered a high-risk condition. According to her husband, upon arrival, a staff nurse administered an injection and then forcefully pulled the baby’s legs. The violent tug caused the infant’s fragile body to separate—the torso came out, but the head remained trapped inside the mother’s womb. The newborn died instantly, leaving the mother in a life-threatening situation.

Witnesses claim that instead of taking immediate responsibility, the CHC staff panicked and referred the patient to a private nursing home. There, the family was allegedly charged ₹7,000 for bed and tests, but no treatment was provided. With time running out, Neeraj rushed his wife to Basti Medical College.

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Doctors at the medical college described the case as extremely critical. Assistant Professor Dr. Kalpana Mishra explained that a normal delivery was impossible at this stage, and an emergency surgery was the only option. After a complex two-hour operation, the trapped head was removed, and the mother’s life was saved.

Medical experts emphasize that breech deliveries should be handled with utmost caution. In such cases, cesarean section (C-section) is the safest option. Forceful pulling can lead to fatal complications, as tragically demonstrated in this incident.

The grieving family has demanded strict action against the negligent CHC staff and the private hospital that exploited them during the crisis. Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rajeev Nigam has sought a report from the CHC in-charge, though he initially denied knowledge of the case.

This horrifying episode underscores the urgent need for better training, accountability, and infrastructure in rural healthcare centers. For families like Neeraj’s, negligence turned a moment of joy into a nightmare, highlighting systemic flaws that demand immediate reform.