Botched C-Section: Akhi was swayed by doctor’s promo videos
Mahbuba Akter Akhi, who along with her newborn died after a botched C-section, was convinced by promotional social media videos of Dr Sanjukta Saha on normal deliveries, said Akhi's husband Yakub Ali Sumon.
This newspaper found multiple promotional videos featuring Sanjukta holding newborns. In one video, posted on her Facebook page on June 2, Sanjukta claimed to have made 12 normal deliveries out of 15 cases admitted to Central Hospital within 24 hours.
"My wife was determined to have a normal delivery. After watching promotional videos on social media, she felt compelled to seek Dr Sanjukta Saha's assistance," Yakub told The Daily Star.
Yakub took Akhi to the hospital from their home in Cumilla's Titas upazila because of this.
Until Akhi's admission to Central Hospital with labour pains in the wee hours of June 10, she received consultation services from Sanjukta multiple times during her pregnancy.
"I contacted Dr Sanjukta's assistant before coming," Yakub said, adding, "He falsely told us that Sanjukta would be at the hospital. In fact, she left the hospital around two hours before we arrived."
Akhi did not have a normal delivery and the child died hours after the surgery. She died eight days later.
As the news of the deaths spread, several former patients of Sanjukta spoke up and alleged fraud and wrong treatment.
"An unsuccessful surgery by Dr Sanjukta Saha in Central Hospital on June 6 last year put my wife's life at risk, and I suffered a loss of Tk 11 lakh. Although she [Sanjukta] promised to cover half the expenses, she did not do so and behaved poorly with us instead," Md Shahajahan, an employee at icddr,b, told The Daily Star yesterday.
Several other patients took to social media and also spoke on the record to media outlets bringing allegations of wrong treatment. One spoke to a TV channel where she said her botched delivery by Sanjukta left her with an obstetric fistula.
Asked if such promotional videos were ethical, Sanjukta did not comment.
On whether she was responsible for the deaths of Akhi and her baby, she said, "I was not in the country at that time. I neither provided treatment nor performed the C-section [on Akhi]."
"I would not make any comment without consulting my lawyer. I will talk to you [the media] soon," she said before hanging up.
Meanwhile, the Central Hospital authorities in a notice issued on Sunday instructed all doctors of the hospital not to publish promotional videos on social media.
"The hospital authorities will take action if any physician does this," read the notice signed by hospital Director MAB Siddique.
ATM Nazrul Islam, deputy director of the hospital, said, "She [Sangjukta] left for abroad without informing us. So, we think she is responsible for the incident."
Meanwhile, Prof Mokhlesur Rahman, head of the forensic department at Dhaka Medical College Hospital following an autopsy on Akhi's body, yesterday said she died due to excessive bleeding.
"We will share the final report after the forensic test soon," he told journalist at the hospital.
The bodies of Akhi and her baby were taken to her village home in Cumilla yesterday and laid to rest in their ancestral graveyard.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare formed a seven-member committee to probe the C-section and deaths. "The committee has been asked to submit its report as soon as possible," Health Minister Zahid Maleque told reporters yesterday.
Following the death of the baby, Yakub filed a case with Dhanmondi Police Station in connection with wrong treatment and fraud. Police arrested two doctors who are now in jail.
On June 16, the Directorate General of Health Services shut down the operating theatre and the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.
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