Central Hospital responsible for deaths of Akhi and her newborn: Dr. Sangjukta Saha

Gynaecologist Dr Sangjukta Saha today blamed Central Hospital for the deaths of Mahbuba Rahman Akhi and her newborn due to "wrong treatment".

Claiming that Akhi was not her patient, she said, “Central Hospital made false statements about me.”

Dr. Saha made the remarks at a press briefing at her house.

"They did not take any verbal or written consent from me at the time of Akhi’s admission," she said.

 "I was not in Bangladesh during her operation…How could I be responsible if I was not there?" -- she asked.

The hospital authorities gave a false statement about her presence at the time of Akhi’s operation, the doctor said.

Dr. Saha said that the hospital authority was proud of me until the incident. "They are now spreading misleading information about me, to hide their negligence," she said.

She affirmed that Mahbuba Rahman Akhi was not her regular patient.

Expressing grief over the deaths of Akhi and her baby, Dr. Saha prayed for the eternal peace of their souls.

Earlier, on June 10, Yeakub Ali Sumon, Akhi‍‍`s husband, filed a case against six identified individuals and several other unidentified people over "wrong treatment" by the physicians at Central Hospital that led to the death of their newborn.

According to the case statement, Akhi was under the supervision of Dr. Sangjukta Saha of Central Hospital for the last three months, and her condition was stated to be normal.

The gynaecologist assured Akhi‍‍`s family that she would give birth through a normal delivery.

Akhi was hospitalised with labour pain at the hospital under the supervision of the gynaecologist around 12:50 am on June 10.

Though Dr. Saha was not present at the time of hospitalization, her assistant said that she was working in the operation theatre.

Two physicians, Dr. Shahjadi and Dr. Munna, who were arrested later, allegedly conducted the delivery at the hospital, which caused the death of the newborn.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on June 16 ordered Central Hospital to suspend activities in its operation theatre until further orders due to dissatisfactory services at the intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency department. Besides, the hospital’s gynaecologist, Dr. Sangjukta Saha, has been asked not to provide any specialist service at the organization until written approval from the DGHS.

A probe body was formed on Monday by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) for looking in to the issue, according to Health MInister Zahid Malek. 

On June 18, Akhi passed away at Labaid Hospital in Dhaka‍‍`s Dhanmondi.