Paresh Lakhani has been working at this hospital for the last 15 years

RAJKOT: In a serious case of medical negligence, a senior doctor in Botad government hospital allegedly performed C-section of a woman despite being in an inebriated condition on Monday night.

Both the 22-year-old woman and the newborn baby girl died within a few hours.

While the accused MBBS doctor Paresh Lakhani , who is the in-charge resident medical officer (RMO) of Sonavala Hospital was arrested, investigation has been launched to ascertain if his negligence caused the woman’s death or she died due to some other medical reason. Dr Lakhani was arrested and booked under sections of Prohibition Act.

Dr Lakhani, 50, has been working at this hospital for the last 15 years.

According to the details of the case, the woman, Kamini Chachi, from Alampar village of Gadhda taluka was brought to Sonavala Hospital as she started having labour pain on Monday evening. Dr Lakhani advised operation and a caesarian was performed. However, the newborn girl was declared dead on birth, Chachia was bleeding profusely. Her family members then decided to shift her to a private gynaecologist’s clinic in Botad, but Chachia died on the way to the hospital at around 11:30pm.

Paresh Lakhani has been working at this hospital for the last 15 years

Sir T Hospital committee to probe cause of death

The family members then went back to Sonavala Hospital to talk to Dr Paresh Lakhani. They found that he was drunk and had performed the operation in an intoxicated state. They immediately informed the police.

During preliminary investigation and breath analyser test, police found that Lakhani was drunk.

Botad superintendent of police Harshad Mehta told TOI, "The family members of the deceased woman have alleged that she died due to medical negligence. We have asked a committee of Bhavnagar’s Sir T Hospital to investigate the exact cause of her death. If the committee finds negligence, we will register a separate offence against doctor.”

The woman’s husband works as a farm labourer. Meanwhile, district health officer JO Madhak has also started an inquiry against Lakhani.

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