The Mizoram State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the state government to pay compensation of Rs. 52.20 lakh to the relatives of a 40-year-old woman over her maternity death, allegedly caused by medical negligence at Serchhip District Hospital in 2021, an official said on Friday.
The official said the commission took the case of Malsawmkimi, who allegedly died at the district hospital after giving birth to a stillborn baby, seriously and criticized the hospital management for medical negligence and failing to sincerely discharge their duties.
The commission stated that Malsawmkimi, a resident of Tlangpui village in Khawzawl district, had gone to Serchhip District Hospital for consultation in 2021.
After undergoing a sonography examination, she was admitted for delivery, during which she was administered labour induction, the statement detailed.
On the second night of the induced labour, Malsawmkimi delivered a stillborn baby around 8:30 pm.
Although doctors reportedly told the family that both mother and child were fine before labour, Malsawmkimi began to bleed heavily soon after delivery and subsequently died around 10:40 pm the same night due to postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), the commission noted.
According to the commission, the victim had previously suffered four miscarriages but had also delivered three children normally.
The incident drew widespread criticism of Serchhip District Hospital on social media, prompting the government to order a magisterial inquiry conducted by the Serchhip Deputy Commissioner, the statement confirmed.
The inquiry recommended a fresh assessment by a medical expert team from Aizawl Civil Hospital to determine whether any lapses had contributed to her death.
The medical expert team concluded that Malsawmkimi should have been strictly advised to undergo a caesarean section, considering her history of miscarriages and her age of 40.
In his reply during the proceedings, the state health service principal director indicated that Malsawmkimi had anaemia with chronic hypotension, as documented in her clinical report at Tlangpui Health Sub-Centre, which, the commission stressed, required serious attention.