A deceased foetus was retained in the womb of a woman in Beed district, Maharashtra, for approximately 22 hours after she experienced a miscarriage at a rural hospital. The incident occurred at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Beed, on February 26, 2024.
The woman, identified as Reshma Bhalerao, was admitted after experiencing abdominal pain and was diagnosed with a missed miscarriage – where the foetus has died but hasn’t been expelled. Despite medical staff confirming the foetal death, they allegedly did not remove the deceased foetus, citing a lack of available blood for transfusion and a shortage of manpower due to ongoing election duties.
The family alleges they repeatedly requested the hospital to perform a procedure to remove the foetus, but their pleas were ignored for over a day. They claim the woman suffered physically and emotionally during this period. Eventually, a surgical procedure was performed to remove the foetus.
Following the incident, the Beed District Health Department has formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter. The committee will examine the medical records, interview the medical staff involved, and the patient and her family to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the delay.
The Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department has also taken cognizance of the incident and has sought a report from the hospital administration. The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about healthcare standards and patient care in rural areas. Authorities have assured a thorough investigation and appropriate action will be taken if any negligence is found. The focus of the investigation is to ascertain why the procedure was delayed despite the confirmed foetal death and the patient’s distress.
