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Thursday 27 June 2013

Man gets wife, infant’s bodies after seven hours : Odhisa

A physically challenged man of Khariar was not allowed to take bodies of his still born child and wife by a private hospital after he expressed his inability to pay the charges of treatment and blood transfusion. The bodies were detained for seven hours by the hospital authorities.


Hrusikesh Majhi’s 29-year-old wife Sapuri was third time pregnant after two miscarriages in the past and this time she was in touch with an Asha worker Kalpana Barik for safe delivery.


When Sapuri developed labour pain on Monday night, Kalpana rushed her to Khariar community health centre (CHC) at around 9 pm. In the absence of a gynaecologist in Khariar CHC, doctors referred her to Nuapada District Headquarters Hospital, about 70 km away. However, with the pain getting intense and inability to arrange funds for a vehicle, Hrusikesh took her to the Mission Hospital, about three km from the CHC. She was admitted in the hospital only after Hrusikesh deposited the requisite money.



Since Hrusikesh was physically challenged, it was Sapuri who worked as a domestic help and ran the household. At around 12.30 am, Sapuri gave birth to a still born child and her condition deteriorated as she was anaemic.



Doctors advised for blood transfusion and one unit of blood was transfused by the hospital on the condition that Hrusikesh would return back the same. This was, however, of no help to Sapuri’s deteriorating condition and she died in wee hours of Tuesday.



But a grieving Hrusikesh was shocked when he was refused to take the bodies of his wife and baby by the hospital authorities who said he should first clear all the expenses of treatment and blood transfusion.

With no other way out, Hrusikesh managed arrange Rs 2,250 from a private money lender of which, he paid Rs1,500 for a unit of blood and Rs 750 for treatment charges. By the time he could take possession of the bodies, seven hours had already passed.


Administrative Officer of the Mission Hospital Ranjan Jal said the patient was brought in serious condition and her haemoglobin was four gram per cent. “We take minimum charges and there is no question of fleecing or exploitation of patients,” he said.



While efforts to contact District Collector and Khariar BDO on benefits for under-privileged women like Sapuri under the Maternity Assistance schemes of Odisha Government proved futile, Social Education Organiser of the block Nilambar Suna assured that all benefits to Hrusikesh would be provided.


Source : The New Indian Express , 27th June 2013

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