Telangana govt. acts tough on Ibrahimpatnam DPL deaths, moots action against 13 medical staff

Criminal complaint to be filed against doctor who performed the sterilisation procedure on August 25

The Telangana Government has initiated stern action in the death of four women due to a botched family planning operation at a mass sterilisation camp at the Community Health Centre in Ibrahimpatnam on Hyderabad outskirts on August 25.

The government has transferred the Rangareddy District Medical and Health Officer Swaraj Laxmi and in-charge District Coordinator of Hospital Services Jhansi Laxmi. It also issued an order to file a criminal case against the duty doctor who conducted the procedure and initiated disciplinary action against twelve other medical officers and para-medical staff.

To prevent recurrence of such incidents in future, the government has also issued certain guidelines including making tubectomy and Double Puncture Laparoscopy (DPL) operations as an integral part of hospital service delivery system and not as camps. Henceforth, the DPL surgeries shall be conducted as fixed day services along with other services extended by a hospital and the women who undergo DPL procedure shall be kept in at least 24-hour mandatory post-operative care at the same facility.

Action against those responsible has been initiated after a committee headed by Director of Public Health Dr. G. Srinivasa Rao inquired into the incident and filed its report recommending the action. Accordingly, orders have been issued to file a criminal case against Dr. Joel Sunil Kumar, who conducted the DPL procedures on 34 women, as per rules in vogue.

Charges would also be framed against Dr. Jhansi Lakshmi, in-charge DCHS of Rangareddy and Dr. Sridhar, Superintendent of CHC Ibrahimpatnam, who has already been placed under suspension.

Based on the recommendations of the DCH committee, disciplinary action has been initiated against Dr. Naga Jyothi, Deputy DM&HO at Ibrahimpatnam and DPL camp officer, Chandrakala, Head Nurse at Community Health Centre at Ibrahimpatnam and Dr. Geetha, Deputy Civil Surgeon at CHC Ibrahimpatnam.

Others against whom action has been initiated include Medical Officer Dr. Srinivas (PHC Madgula), Dr. Kiran (PHC Manchal) and Dr. Poonam (PHC Dandumailaram), Supervisors Alivelu and Mangamma (both PHC Madgula), Jayalatha (PHC Manchal) and Janakamma (PHC Dandumailaram).