10 women died of tubectomy last year

Ten women died in Mumbai following tubectomy procedures in 2015-16 in civic hospitals. Of these, three women had travelled from outside the city. The data paints a worrying picture about the popularity of tubectomy as a method of birth control despite its male counterpart vasectomy being a relatively easier procedure.

Chetan Kothari, Right to Information (RTI) activist, obtained the data by filing a query. The number of deaths was also significantly high in 2013-14 when eight women died following the procedure in the civic hospitals in the city.

"Most of the women who died come from lower middle class or middle-class homes and it could point to the lack of care they received following the procedures," Kothari said.

"It also shows that the medical staff performing the procedure lacked experience or were not properly qualified to carry out these procedures," he said.

The data from the years 2007 to 2016 suggests that there have been deaths every year except between 2014-15. The ages of the women have varied between 20 and 40.

"Infections following the procedure is common. Also, most of the times tubectomy is performed along with a medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) or a C-section. The other procedures lead to complications," said Dr Anjali Talwalkar, gynaecologist, Kohinoor Hospital, Kurla.

Tubectomy Deaths 

2012-13 
02

2013-14 
08

2014-15 
Nil

2015-16 
10