This news that has come out from Bhagalpur district of Bihar is not only shocking but also raises serious questions on the health system of the state. In Ekchari area of Kahalgaon block, a quack doctor performed a caesarean operation on a pregnant woman after watching a YouTube video, for which the woman had to pay the price with her life. On Thursday night, when Swati Devi, a resident of Shrimath Sthan of Ekchari area, was in labour pain, her family members took her to the clinic of a doctor named Amar Kumar Mandal on the advice of the village’s Asha worker. The family members allege that the doctor demanded Rs 30,000 for the operation and after getting the consent, started the caesarean after watching a YouTube video on the mobile.
The video was being watched repeatedly after stopping
According to eyewitnesses, the doctor and his assistant repeatedly paused to watch the video on their mobile phones during the operation. This gross negligence resulted in the woman bleeding profusely and dying on the operating table. However, the newborn baby was safely removed.
Doctor absconding after death
After the woman’s death, the doctor, citing worsening conditions, advised the patient to be taken to another hospital. He closed his clinic shortly afterward and fled. By the time the family was preparing to take the woman, she had already died.
Family members create ruckus by keeping the dead body
Angered by the incident, family members and villagers created a ruckus by placing the woman’s body outside the clinic. Upon receiving information, Rasulpur police station arrived at the scene, took possession of the body, and began an investigation.
Family’s pain and serious allegations
The deceased’s grandmother, Sanjhu Devi, alleged that the village ASHA worker had provided the address of the clinic. She said, “Two hours later, they told us to take the patient, but by then my granddaughter had already died.”
Such incidents have happened before
Locals say this isn’t the first incident. Previous reports of treatments and surgeries being performed at this same clinic based on YouTube have surfaced, but each time the matter was hushed up. The biggest question is how this clinic continued to operate illegally for years despite the controversy and deaths.