Gujarat: Pregnant woman, baby die on ‘drunk’ doctor’s operating table

A doctor in Botad town has been accused of medical negligence after he operated on a pregnant woman, who was in labour, allegedly in an inebriated state. The woman, Kamini Chachia, and her baby died on the operating table.

Dr Paresh Lakhani, a Class 2 medical officer, has been booked by the Botad Police under the Prohibition Act and initial breathalyser tests show the presence of alcohol. Police say that whether the woman and infant died due to medical negligence can only be ascertained by a post-mortem.

Chachia was brought to the government-run Sonawala hospital for delivery at around midnight on Monday. “Relatives cornered the doctor (after Chachia and the child passed away), and accused him of being drunk during the operation,” says Superintendent of Police (Botad) Harshad Mehta, “Police rushed to the spot and a breathalyser revealed that the doctor was drunk.”