MPHRC orders probe after woman gives birth despite sterilisation

Jabalpur: The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) has sought a detailed inquiry report from the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Jabalpur after a 26-year-old woman allegedly conceived and delivered her third child despite undergoing sterilisation surgery at a government hospital.The commission took cognisance of media reports as well as the woman’s complaint. Its principal bench, headed by chairman Dr Awadhesh Pratap Singh, directed the CMHO to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within two weeks, said Farzana Mirza, in-charge of the regional office.According to officials, the woman is a resident of Durga Colony in the Bargi Hills area of Jabalpur. She had undergone a sterilisation procedure at the government-run Victoria Hospital after the birth of her second child.However, she later suspected that she was pregnant. She approached the Tilwara health centre and the medical college hospital for examination and sonography. Medical tests confirmed that she was already more than seven months pregnant when the condition was detected.With little scope left for medical termination of pregnancy, she subsequently gave birth to her third child.The woman, who works as a daily-wage labourer, has alleged negligence on the part of doctors.

She has demanded action against those responsible as well as compensation.She said she had raised the issue during a public hearing, but claimed that no action was taken on her complaint.The case has once again highlighted concerns over the quality of sterilisation procedures and the lack of adequate post-operative monitoring in government health care facilities in the state.