NHRC notice to Odisha govt over woman’s death

National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to Odisha government over reports that a pregnant woman died along with and her unborn child allegedly after being kicked and slapped by a nurse at a government-run hospital in Mayurbhanj district of the state. “The contents of the press report, if true, indicates gross negligence and prevailing lawlessness in the government- run hospital in the Mayurbhanj district and raises serious questions of violation of human rights,” NHRC member Justice D Murugesan said in a statement here on Monday.

Taking a suo motu cognisance of a media report, the panel has issued notice to the Chief Secretary of Odisha government and sought a report in the matter within four weeks.

According to the media report published on October 7, the victim woman was admitted to the district 

hospital in Baripada town on October 4. However, the doctor on duty reportedly asked her to wait till Monday for the delivery.