When health visitor acts as doctor!

A four-month pregnant woman died as her dilation and curettage (D&C) was allegedly conducted by a health visitor instead of doctor at a clinic in Boda uapzila town of Panchagarh.

The story did not end here. The victim was buried without postmortem amid pressure from some local ruling party leaders, OC AKM Nurul Islam of Boda Police Station said.

The deceased was Maleka Begum, 40, wife of Joynal Haque of Dhonipara village in the upazila.

Joynal said after Maleka started feeling sick on Sunday, she was brought to Niramoy Clinic in the upazila where her D&C was conducted.

Clinic manager Ujjal then shifted the patient to the upazila health complex as her condition worsened, the victim's husband said, adding that seeing the worsening situation, Dr Anwar of the health complex referred her to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital.

But convinced by a broker of Niramoy Clinic, they took her to Eleza Clinic in Thakurgon Sadar where she died on Monday morning, he said, adding that Eleza Clinic runs without doctors.

In the meantime, the authority of Eleza Clinic somehow managed Sub-Inspector Belal Hossain of Sadar Police Station and sent the body to the victim's house without postmortem with the help of the SI, alleged witnesses and the family members. 

On information, Thakurgaon Acting Civil Surgeon Dr Khairul Kabir visited the spot and told the reporters that clinic manager Ujjal said a health visitor conducted the D&C on the pregnant woman. 

Except doctor, none can conduct the D&C, he said, adding that they will investigate the matter through a probe committee.

OC Abdul Mannan of Sadar PS said they released the body without autopsy as the victim's family did not file a complaint.

However, Boda OC Nurul Islam said the victim should not be buried without postmortem as allegations rose over her death.