Woman dies after Cesarean operation in Chilaw

Mother dies 2 hours after delivering twins!
Hospital doctor had been away on Channel Service!

An inquiry has been launched over an incident where a mother who gave birth to twins at Chilaw Base Hospital had suddenly passed away after a few hours of delivering the babies after facing a difficult situation as the Consultant Doctor had not arrived at that moment.
The Doctor-in-Charge had been absent at the time when this delivery of a somewhat complex operation had to be carried out under difficult circumstances. Though all necessary instructions and guidance had been given to the mother concerned prior to deliver, it is understood that on the day of this mother's delivery he had actually come to this hospital but at the moment of her delivery, he had left the hospital and had been engaged in  private Channel Service.

It is stated that in the preliminary investigations conducted by the Ministry of Health it has been revealed that this doctor who is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Specialist engaging in private medical practice is a serious offence. 

The deceased is a 34 year old mother of 5 children named Sajeewa Shriyanthi Silva from Chilaw area. The victim who had 3 children had been admitted to the hospital last 8th to deliver the twins and when she felt her labour pains on the 9th, the delivery had been effected by another doctor in the absence of the relevant Specialist Doctor through a Cesarean operation on which occasion the twins were born.

Mrs. Sajeewa Shriyanthi who was in discomfort from the moment of her delivery, suddenly passed away after a few hours and it was after that an investigation committee was appointed by the Ministry of Health to find out the reason for the death.

What the husband of deceased Sajeewa said was that the doctor in question had not appeared during the period when his wife was in the Ward and he had not visited her even once. He also revealed that the victim has had no sickness and that the hospital had not been able to provide the assistance of a VOG, which he cited as the reason of the death of his wife.

According to the preliminary investigations, which commenced last 13th, though the relevant Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist had reported to the hospital, he had not participated in the operation concerned. Information has been received that at the moment Mrs. Sajeewa was subjected to the Cesarean operation, he had been involved in private practice.

Even in a circular of the Ministry of Health,it is stated that in the case of any operation, it is mandatory that the relevant Specialist Doctor should be present at the surgical theater or hospital premises.

It had been decided to send a team of medical specialists to Chilaw Hospital to conduct further investigations today (15). Ministerial sources say that a decision would be taken in respect of the incident during the course of this week by Director-General of the Ministry of Health and legal action would be taken against the relevant doctor concerned.