Imphal, February 19: Death of a woman in labour led to a clash between the patient�s party and the doctors at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) this morning.

The Director of the Institute has directed the Head of the Gynaecology Department to conduct an inquiry into the incident even as the casualty ward of the Institute has been closed down by the doctors in protest.

The deceased woman has been identified as M Sangkhu (37) of Sandang Senba Maring Khul and her husband as one Chandrika Sahani (38) from Bihar but staying at the house of his wife.

Talking to mediapersons in connection with death of his wife, Sahani, who works as a driver cum mechanic, said doctors had asked him to purchase necessary medicines for the delivery of his child at around 7.30 am today but when he came back with the medicines at around 7.45 am, he found his wife in a critical condition and doctors attending on her.

Later the doctors told him that his wife could not be saved.

Sahani informed that at the advice of one Dr Binodkumar, his wife was admitted to the hospital on February 16. However, when he went to find out what are the medicines that the doctors had administered to his wife, it was found out that the doctors had alleged entered in the register that his wife was not admitted to the hospital on February 16, 17 and 18. Sahani informed that his wife had been staying in the hospital since the day she was admitted on Feb 16 and as she could not get a bed, she was lying on the floor.

None of the doctors have been ever come to check her and it was only this morning that when her labour pain started that the doctors rushed her to the labour room, he asserted.

Furious over the conduct of the doctors, the patient�s party reportedly ransacked room of the doctors at first before the clash broke out.

One of the security guards of the hospital who was trying to control the situation and another person from the side of the patient�s party reportedly suffered injuries in the ensuing melee.

Arrival of personnel from Lamphel Police Station managed to bring the situation under control though tension still ran high.

With apprehension of continuation of the clash, nurses have shifted other woman patients admitted for delivery cases to another ward.

When asked the names of the doctors who were on duty at the ward today, the nurses declined to answer with a firm �we don�t know�.

After the clash, the doctors of the hospital in protest closed down the casualty ward of RIMS since 11.30 am.

Talking to mediapersons at his office chamber in connection with the incident, RIMS Director Prof L Fimate disclosed that Dr Manglem, Head of Gynae Department has been entrusted to conduct an inquiry to find out the truth and submit the report soon.

Necessary action would be taken up only after the report has been studied, he added.

While informing that it has also come to his knowledge about the alleged absence of the deceased woman patient when doctors came for their round of duty on February 16, 17 and 18, Prof Fimate noted that the maternity ward of the hospital is overloaded.

In connection with the incident, Health Minister DK Korungthang and Minister Allauddin Khan visited RIMS in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, a JAC has been formed in connection with the death of the woman and setting February 21 as the deadline it has raised the demand for conducting a judicial inquiry, penalising the guilty doctors and payment of Rs 3 lakhs as ex-gratia.

The body has been picked up by the police and kept at the mortuary at around 7.15 pm.

A complaint has also been lodged with the Lamphel police in this connection.

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