Obstetricians and gynaecologists in the State are engaged in a quiet rebellion . They have decided to “take a step back” from conducting deliveries in public hospitals that lack adequate human resources, facilities and infrastructure, ensuring obstetric emergencies are handled only at tertiary care centres .
In fact, in Thiruvananthapuram district, Ob-Gyn specialists have already started implementing this protocol, a joint decision that was taken by them in consultation with their fraternity as well as the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association
Over the past two weeks, in institutions where there are just two Ob-gyns and no resident anaesthesiologist, doctors have stopped conducting deliveries and related surgeries after duty hours.
Ob-Gyn specialists point out that every time unexpected complications arise during a delivery, they are targeted for “medical negligence”. The incident at Nedumangad hospitaI (wherein the Ob-gyn doctor was blamed for the death of the new-born) is the latest in a series of incidents, wherein the mob turned on the doctors.
Though the enquiry report later found the doctor to have followed all protocols, the violence that the doctors face as well as the apathy of the authorities seem to have prompted doctors to adopt the hardline stance.
