Bombay HC Notice to BMC Over Bhandup Maternity Home Deaths

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has taken action against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) following a tragic incident at Sushma Swaraj Maternity Home in Bhandup, where a woman and her newborn died allegedly due to hospital negligence. The court's notice comes after a plea highlighted the dire conditions at the facility, including a power failure during the delivery, which forced medical staff to use mobile phone flashlights for assistance. The incident occurred on April 29, when Khusruddin Ansari's wife, Shaheedunissa, was admitted to the maternity home in labor. Reports indicate that multiple cases were handled under similar circumstances that day, with no backup power sources available. Tragically, the newborn was declared dead shortly after birth, and Shaheedunissa was later transferred to Sion Hospital, where she was pronounced dead early the next morning. Advocates for the petitioner criticized the maternity home's lack of basic facilities and the hospital's failure to provide necessary medical documents, which led the family to seek legal intervention. The court noted that the Indian Medical Council (IMC) mandates hospitals to provide medical records within 72 hours upon request, and failure to comply could result in disciplinary action. In response to the situation, the court has ordered the zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police to oversee the investigation initiated by Bhandup Police into the alleged medical negligence, while also questioning the IMC's planned actions regarding the case.