CUTTACK: The SCB Medical College and Hospital authorities on Thursday reiterated that the death of 38-year-old Banita Das in the labour room on Wednesday was caused by eclampsia, a life-threatening complication in pregnancy. Meanwhile, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) has called for sprucing up infrastructure and manpower to handle the increasing critical case load. The Hospital in its report to the State Government said Banita, who hailed from Ugratara village under Chandipur Police limits of Bhadrak district, had reported at the Gynaecology OPD with severe pre-eclampsia at around 1 pm. She was immediately shifted to the labour room where she was secured as per guidelines and treatment protocols for such cases. Doctors at the labour room had promptly administered anti-convulsant drugs and injections to her along with blood pressure control medications. However, she had to be accommodated on the floor of the labour room near bed no. 10 as the two special beds for eclampsia cases had already been occupied. At around 3.30 pm, she suffered from seizure and succumbed despite best efforts to resuscitate her. The central ICU had also been informed for shifting her to provide life support, but she could not make it, the report has stated. The family members and relatives of Banita had alleged that she had died due to negligence by the doctors in the labour room. She was alleged to have fallen off the bed after she developed fits and convulsion. The department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has called for increasing the capacity to handle eclampsia patients in the labour room. According to department statistics, eclampsia is the single-most cause of preventable deaths in the labour room. While on an average more than eight severe pre-eclampsia patients are admitted to the Department daily, there are only two specially-designed beds for such cases. Apart from provisioning of more beds, the number of senior residents should also be increased. The department also demanded a High Dependency Unit for providing critical care. The Government should also think of including calcium tablets in the list of medications as iron and folic acid tablets are provided to pregnant women free of cost. Consumption of calcium tablets from the beginning of pregnancy lowers the risk of eclampsia. “As most of the patients are referral cases from peripheral hospitals and arrive at advanced stages of complications, preventive measures should be initiated,” a senior doctor said.
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