Pune woman’s death: probe panel finds hospital guilty of denying immediate treatment

State probe finds Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune violated emergency care norms by denying pregnant woman admission over deposit.

A state-appointed probe committee has found Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune in violation of emergency care norms after it allegedly denied admission to a pregnant woman, Tanisha Bhise, due to the inability to pay a ₹10 lakh deposit. Bhise later died at another hospital after giving birth to twins.

A State-appointed probe committee has found Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune in violation of emergency care norms after it allegedly denied admission to a pregnant woman, Tanisha Bhise, due to the family’s inability to pay a ₹10-lakh deposit. Bhise later died at another hospital after giving birth to twins.

The four-member committee, headed by Dr. Radhakishan Pawar, Joint Director of the Maharashtra Health Department, submitted its report to Pune police on Monday.

The panel concluded that the hospital had failed to comply with the Bombay Public Trust Act, which requires charitable hospitals to provide emergency medical treatment without insisting on advance payment. According to the report, the hospital did not fulfil its obligation of providing immediate care and stabilising the patient, as mandated under the Maharashtra Nursing Home Registration Act.

While hospital authorities claimed that the patient left “without informing the management” after spending five-and-a-half hours on the premises, the panel stated that the hospital failed to provide essential emergency care or arrange for a safe transfer, as required under law.

The committee has recommended that the Charity Commissioner take appropriate action against the hospital for breaching statutory obligations. The case has drawn widespread public attention as Bhise was the wife of the personal secretary of BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sushrut Ghaisas, a consulting gynaecologist at the hospital, has resigned. Confirming the development, the hospital’s medical director, Dr. Dhananjay Kelkar, said Dr. Ghaisas cited intense public pressure and threat calls as reasons for stepping down.