KALYAN: The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation’s (KDMC) health department has set up an inquiry into the death of a newborn at its Shaktidham Hospital in Kalyan (East) on Thursday.The mother, Rutuja Dinesh Patil, and her family members alleged that a delay in performing a Caesarean section contributed to the death of the baby.Patil, who had been visiting the hospital for antenatal care for the last seven months, was admitted around 7am on Thursday for delivery. The doctors said she would have a normal delivery.However, as Patil’s pain and discomfort increased, the family of the woman repeatedly told the doctors that a Caesarean section should be performed if required. The family alleged that doctors only began taking urgent steps around 6pm after the baby’s heartbeat had reportedly weakened. A slow fetal heart rate during labour can sometimes be an emergency, indicating the foetus is not getting enough oxygen.A Caesarean section was subsequently performed, but the baby died during treatment.KDMC health officer Dr Deepa Shukla said an inquiry has started and further action would be decided based on its findings.A couple of months back, Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre assaulted doctors at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli over alleged negligence in treating a pregnant woman.In another case, a child was reportedly left with a needle in the body after an injection.
