Doctors at the Mayiladuthurai govt hospital boycotted outpatient treatment and elective procedures on Tuesday, protesting the suspension of a doctor working there following the death of a newborn baby.
On Nov 2, Murugesan, a farmer from Thiruvidaimaruthur block of Thanjavur district, admitted his wife Sivaranjani to the hospital for the delivery of their second child. According to relatives of Murugesan, Sivaranjani experienced severe labour pain, prompting them to request a C-section. However, the duty doctor declined it and insisted on a normal delivery. She delivered a male baby on Nov 8. However, the newborn was unresponsive at birth. Doctors then referred the infant to Cuddalore Govt Medical College Hospital. Despite treatment, the newborn baby died on Monday.
Following protests from the family members and CPM members over the alleged medical negligence, joint director of health and family welfare Dr V T Banumathi suspended the duty doctor on Monday after conducting a preliminary inquiry.
However, the protesting doctors on Tuesday said the doctor was suspended without an inquiry. "The suspension order was issued based on a pre-determined assumption without an inquiry. We demand a detailed inquiry into the matter," Dr K Senthil, state president of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors' Association, told TOI. "If the doctor is found guilty after an inquiry, authorities can take necessary action. But the suspension order should be issued following the due procedure."
Attempts to contact Banumathi did not elicit any response.