Srinagar, May 23 (KNO): A concerning incident at District Hospital Bandipora has raised serious questions over patient management and medical decision-making after a pregnant woman unexpectedly delivered her baby inside an ambulance moments after being referred for advanced treatment in Srinagar.
The incident, which occurred within the hospital premises shortly after the ambulance left the emergency gate, has sparked outrage among the patient’s family, who have alleged negligence on the part of the doctors on duty and demanded a fair and transparent investigation.
The relatives of Kulsooma Begum, wife of Azad Ahmad Dar, resident of Laharwalpora in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that she was brought to District Hospital Bandipora after developing complications related to pregnancy.
She said Kulsooma was taken to the labour room where the medical staff examined her. However, instead of conducting the delivery at the district hospital, doctors referred her to Srinagar for further treatment, they said.
Family members alleged that the patient was already experiencing severe labour pain and was in a critical stage of pregnancy when the decision to shift her was taken.
“Within minutes of leaving the hospital, she delivered the baby normally inside the ambulance itself. If the delivery could happen there, why was she referred in such a condition?” a family member questioned, demanding accountability from the doctors concerned.
Another relative alleged that the woman was shifted “without proper assessment”, claiming that the patient’s labour condition was evident before the referral was made.
The incident has triggered concern among locals as well, with many questioning whether adequate medical judgment was exercised before the referral decision.
Following the incident, the Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Bandipora initiated action by seeking written explanations from the two doctors who were on duty at the time of the incident — Dr Fency Bulbul, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Dr Bazila, Medical Officer.
In an official order issued by the Medical Superintendent, the doctors were directed to submit separate written explanations within three days detailing their role, duties performed, and actions taken in connection with the patient’s care and referral.
“The explanation shall specifically address the circumstances under which the delivery occurred during transit in the ambulance and the actions taken by the concerned doctors in relation to the management of the patient,” the order stated, warning that failure to submit the explanations within the stipulated timeframe would invite action under relevant service rules.
The hospital administration has also constituted a formal enquiry committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether there was any lapse in patient care or negligence by the medical staff.
The enquiry committee will be headed by Dr Javaid Ahmad Bhat, Consultant Physician, with Dr Nadeem Ali, Consultant Orthopaedics, Head Assistant Ishtiyaq Ahmad Para, Accounts Manager Tafazul Yousuf, and a representative deputed by the Chief Medical Officer Bandipora as members.
According to the order, the committee has been tasked with examining all facts related to the delivery that occurred during transit and assessing the role and responsibility of the officials and medical staff involved.
The Chief Medical Officer Bandipora has been requested to depute a representative for the enquiry proceedings scheduled on May 26.
The committee has been directed to submit its detailed report, along with findings and recommendations, within three days—(KNO)