Probe into denial of treatment to HIV positive pregnant woman begins

Beginning the probe into the denial of treatment to HIV positive pregnant woman case on Friday, the District Family Welfare Officer (DFWO) recorded the statement of patient's husband at the civil surgeon office.

Beginning the probe into the denial of treatment to HIV positive pregnant woman case on Friday, the District Family Welfare Officer (DFWO) recorded the statement of patient's husband at the civil surgeon office.

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In his statement, patient's husband said his wife was admitted on March 30 at Lord Mahavira Civil Hospital and gynecologist Dr Manjeet Chabbra came to visit her on March 31 and kept on denying conducting delivery for one reason or the other.

"When I complained to the higher authorities of the hospital, Dr Chabbra agreed at first, but then referred the patient to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, stating that he cannot conduct the delivery. My wife's delivery was due on March 23," he added in the statement.

"Finally I got my wife discharged from the hospital as I was not getting any response from the doctors. I took her to a private hospital where I had to bear the financial burden and mental stress," said patient's husband in the statement.

Dr Dhingra said, "Such cases break the confidence of the people in the government health system and most importantly in doctors. This was not the first time, as earlier, too, HIV positive woman were denied delivery at the government hospitals."