Mother dies of medical negligence

Powai ayurvedic doc arrested

A newborn became motherless minutes after his birth on Tuesday, allegedly to sheer medical negligence. A 22-year-old woman lost her life in a Powai maternity hospital when delivering a healthy boy. The maternity hospital - Shree Maternity and Nursing Home - is run by a doctor of ayurveda, which translates as "the knowledge of life".

Dr Patwardhan, a Bachelor in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), and is not legally permitted to run a nursing home, the police claim. They have registered a case of negligence, leading to death of Poonam Salvi.

On Monday, the expectant mother was rushed to the maternity home situated opposite the main gate of Indian Institute of Technology after she experienced labour pains.

A consulting gynaecologist, who did not want to be named, said, "Running a maternity clinic or hospital by a BAMS doctor is against medical practices."

The Powai police have detained Patwardhan and her staff. "We are trying to ascertain if Patwardhan is licenced to run a maternity home despite holding a certificate in Ayurveda," said a senior police official.

Salvi's body has been sent to JJ Hospital for a post-mortem. The Salvi household is in a state of shock. "The doctors never told me about my wife's death," said Prashant, 30, in a choked voice.

"Instead they asked me to rush her to Rajawadi hospital," he said. Poonam was declared dead before admission.