The fatal stroke of medical negligence: A case report

On 6-10-11 at 10am, a 35yr old woman in 2^nd gravida and at term was brought for delivery in the Obstetrics & Gynaecology OPD of JNIMS (Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences), Imphal and was admitted in the antenatal ward on the eve of her EDD. The next day i.e., on the EDD (Expected date of delivery), normal delivery was planned since her previous baby was also delivered by normal vaginal delivery and labour was accordingly induced at 6a.m. using cervical gel (progesterone). At around 1p.m. syntocinon (oxytocin) was started iv. Around 8p.m. foetal distress was diagnosed and an emergency Caesarean section was planned. But for 2hrs, the patient was left unattended in the pre-operative room and expired at 10pm. At the moment of death, foetal parts were felt superficially and patient did not recover from irreversible shock. The case report highlights the fact that medical negligence has resulted in the deaths of both the mother and the baby.