The mother's story about the doctors who caused the child's death at Trincomalee Hospital

A tragic incident has been reported from the Kappalthurai area, where a newborn infant died due to the negligence of doctors at the Trincomalee General Hospital. Mrs. Saththiyaseelan Nilakshika, 27, a resident of Kappalthurai village and the mother of the deceased infant, alleges that they had to face this unfortunate fate because the doctors involved were working at a private hospital under the guise of a strike.

On the afternoon of April 08, she was admitted to the maternity ward of Trincomalee General Hospital due to labor pains. After admission, she informed the hospital staff several times that she was experiencing severe labor pains and back pain, and that she was bleeding vaginally. However, no doctor came to examine her, stating that the doctors were on strike, and the ward staff only told her that since it was her first delivery, there was still plenty of time.

By the morning of April 09, her condition had worsened, and with heavy bleeding starting, she was taken to the delivery room in the clothes she was wearing. The baby was delivered around 9:54 AM that day, but the staff took the infant away without allowing the mother to see it. A subsequent post-mortem examination confirmed that the infant died due to meconium aspiration. Mrs. Nilakshika, in deep shock, states that if doctors had examined her in time and performed a C-section, there would have been a chance to save her child's life.

The mother also stated:

"From the moment I was admitted to the hospital, I said about seven or eight times that I was in pain. I said I was experiencing severe labor pains. I said my back and limbs were aching. I said water was coming out with blood from my vagina. No one in the ward examined me until the junior doctor in the ward finished examining other mothers and came to me. If the obstetrician and gynecologist had examined me and performed a C-section when I was admitted to the hospital, my child could have been saved," she said, wiping her tear-filled eyes and showing a photograph of the infant on her mobile phone.

I started feeling unwell from the morning of April 08. Afterwards, my mother took me to Trincomalee General Hospital in the afternoon. I was admitted to the maternity ward around 1:45 PM. A junior doctor examined me in a routine manner. They said there were still days left, so I should rest, and provided a bed. I told the ward nurses and the family health officer that I was in a lot of pain. They said that the doctors, the V.O.G. (Visiting Obstetrician and Gynecologist), needed to examine me and to call him. Later, my mother came during visiting hours in the evening. I told my mother that I was in pain. My mother also went and told the doctor in the ward. They said, 'It's your first baby, it's normal, there's still time.' I felt unwell again at 9:00 PM. They put a belt on my bed. I had back pain. No matter how many times I told them, no doctor came to examine me. The ward staff said the doctors were on strike.

Around 6:00 AM on the 9th, my mother and husband came to see me. My husband told the ward doctor that I was in pain and asked them to deliver the baby, even if it meant a C-section. By 7:00 AM, they told my mother and husband to leave the ward, saying visiting hours were over. Later that morning, I said I was bleeding heavily. That's when they took me to the delivery room in the clothes I was wearing. On the 9th, at 9:54 AM, I gave birth. They didn't show me the baby. A family health worker took the baby and ran off. I was kept in the delivery room until 4:00 PM.

Family members emphasize that Dr. O.V.G.L. Weerasena, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and Dr. S.A.N.D. Siyambalapitiya, Senior Resident Medical Officer, of Trincomalee General Hospital are entirely responsible for this tragedy. The mother's side urges authorities to completely ban the professional rights of such doctors who receive salaries from public tax money, neglect their duties, and work in private hospitals. Taking legal action in this regard, they filed a complaint at the Trincomalee Police Superintendent's office on the 13th, which has been forwarded to the Port Police for further investigation.

The Ministry of Health has already launched a full investigation into the incident. The Director General of Health Services has taken steps to suspend the services of the two doctors involved, based on charges of neglecting duty during working hours, working in a private hospital, and engaging in unprofessional conduct. Furthermore, Trincomalee District Member of Parliament, Mr. Roshan Akmeemana, has also requested an impartial investigation into this incident. As hospital emergency death inquest reports confirm that about six such infant deaths have been reported from Trincomalee General Hospital in recent times, local residents are also strongly urging prompt legal action against this.