Pregnant woman dies during abortion; 2 doctors among 5 held in Butwal

Butwal, April 22

Police have taken two doctors in Butwal into custody in connection with the death of 29-year-old Gita Pandey of Palpa, who died during an abortion procedure.

Those detained are Dr DB Khatri, operator of Khatri Nursing Home, and Dr Satish Rupakheti of Indu Lekha Health Clinic.

The deceased’s husband, Prakash Pandey, filed a formal complaint accusing the doctors of gross negligence with the intent of financial gain. He has named five individuals, including the two doctors, in the case.

Apart from the doctors, Sandhya Basnet and Nilam Gharti Magar of Zonal Pharmacy, along with Khagendra Prasad Pandey, operator of Indu Lekha Health Clinic, were also accused. Basnet, Gharti, and Pandey were arrested on Tuesday morning.

According to DSP Nishant Srivastava, chief of the Area Police Office, Butwal, Dr Khatri and Dr Rupakheti arrived at the police office themselves late Tuesday evening after being called for questioning and are currently under investigation.

“Three individuals had already been arrested based on the complaint. After we called the two doctors for questioning, they presented themselves at the office,” DSP Srivastava said. “Further legal action will depend on the findings of the investigation.”

He added that the three previously arrested individuals have been remanded in custody for three days by the district court to continue the investigation. “If others are found involved, they will also be brought under legal action,” he said.

What happened?

Gita Pandey, a resident of Baganasakali Rural Municipality-2, Khya, Palpa, visited Khatri Nursing Home on Chaitra 27 for a check-up of her approximately 12-week pregnancy.

At the time, Dr DB Khatri informed her that the pregnancy was abnormal and asked her to return for further treatment on Baisakh 4. She visited the nursing home again on Baisakh 5 along with her husband.

However, the nursing home referred her to Zonal Pharmacy Clinic in Butwal Hospital Line by providing a location map.

At the pharmacy, she was told that the abortion procedure would cost Rs 16,000. After taking an advance payment of Rs 2,000, she was given two types of medication and asked to return the next day. She was later taken to Indu Lekha Clinic, where she died during the abortion procedure. According to her husband, Dr Satish Rupakheti examined her at the clinic.

Prakash Pandey said he did not see the aborted fetus and was not informed after his wife lost consciousness. He stated that she was taken to the emergency ward of Lumbini City Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

He added that Gita, who was employed at the Blood Transfusion Service Centre, had no chronic illnesses and was in good health.

“There was serious negligence in treatment driven by the intention to earn money,” Prakash said. “There must be an impartial investigation and action to ensure justice for Gita and to prevent such incidents in the future.”

Gita was preparing to become a mother for the second time, five years after the birth of her first child, a son.

Prakash also alleged that after Gita’s death, Zonal Pharmacy concealed the location card provided by Khatri Nursing Home and other medical reports related to her treatment.

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