A long-running medical negligence complaint involving a neonatal death and subsequent hysterectomy was recently dismissed by the Kerala State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. After reviewing medical records and the absence of expert evidence, the Commission concluded that neither the treating gynecologist nor the hospital was negligent in managing the delivery or postpartum complications. The Patient’s Labor and Clinical Progression The patient was admitted to a hospital in Kasaragod in December 2009 with a term pregnancy in active labor and cephalic presentation.
She had good uterine contractions, and artificial rupture of membranes was performed in the evening, revealing clear liquor. During the second stage of labor, fetal bradycardia was noted, following which a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery was carried out. The newborn was delivered with severe birth asphyxia and facial…
