The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has clarified that there was no apparent delay or negligence in the treatment of three pregnancy-related deaths reported at Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar on August 26.
The clarification followed concerns over three deaths reported in the hospital’s maternity department within a 24-hour period. According to the civic administration, two of the cases were intrauterine foetal deaths (IUFDs), meaning the foetuses had died before delivery, while the third involved a newborn who died despite emergency treatment and care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The BMC said hospital records showed that doctors and medical staff responded to the cases promptly and made efforts to save the patients and newborn.
The hospital conducted 13 deliveries in Unit 3 on August 26, including eight Caesarean sections and five normal deliveries. Two of the pregnancies involved foetal deaths before birth.
In the first case, a 37-week pregnant woman, identified as Hira Bhandari, was admitted to Rajawadi Hospital. She was expecting her third child and had previously undergone two Caesarean sections.
During the initial examination, doctors were unable to clearly detect the foetal heartbeat. An ultrasound examination was conducted immediately and confirmed an intrauterine foetal death.
The BMC said that the absence of a foetal heartbeat after admission does not by itself establish that the foetus died at the hospital. Previous antenatal records, ultrasound reports and other medical documents would need to be reviewed to determine the timing of the death.
According to the civic body, there was no prima facie indication of a delay in examination or negligence in this case.
The second case involved Rehana Begum Khan, who was 33 weeks pregnant and had diabetes and hypertension, conditions that can make a pregnancy high-risk.
The hospital said she had been advised to undergo regular antenatal check-ups and follow-up consultations but had not returned for medical monitoring for approximately 15 days. When she subsequently arrived at the hospital, the sonography report she brought with her indicated that the foetus had already died.
The third case involved Nusrat Jahan Khan, who was 40 weeks and two days pregnant and expecting her first child.
As the pregnancy had gone beyond the expected delivery period and doctors observed signs of foetal distress, an emergency Caesarean section was performed. The baby was born with a very low heart rate, or bradycardia, and was immediately resuscitated before being transferred to the NICU.
Despite emergency treatment and continued efforts by the medical team, the newborn died approximately one-and-a-half to two hours after birth, according to the BMC.
Following the deaths, BMC Health Committee chairperson Harish Bhandirge visited Rajawadi Hospital and sought details from hospital superintendent Dr Chandrakant Pawar, senior medical officer Dr Bharti Rajulwala and the doctors involved in treating the patients.
An inquiry was ordered to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths and assess the medical care provided.
The review will also examine the functioning of the maternity department, including the availability of medical equipment, facilities, manpower and emergency response systems.
The BMC said the medical records available so far do not point to negligence or a delay in treatment in any of the three cases. However, the inquiry is expected to establish the precise causes and circumstances of the deaths.
The deaths prompted allegations of medical negligence from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which questioned the functioning of the hospital’s maternity department and demanded an investigation.
MNS workers confronted the hospital administration and sought action against those found responsible. The party also warned of an agitation and demanded that a police case be registered if an inquiry established negligence.
Hospital authorities, however, maintained that the necessary medical facilities were operational and that the three cases involved serious medical complications.
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