CHENNAI: The head of a

got separated from the torso during

at a primary health centre in

near Chennai. The torso of the baby, which was still stuck inside the mother’s womb, was later removed. Doctors said the baby had died in the womb and its head got separated during vaginal delivery.

Bommidala was taken to the PHC on Sunday when she complained of labour pain. A relative said staff nurses had ignored her requests for pain relief and gone ahead with a vaginal delivery, instead of referring her to a higher speciality centre for a safer Caesarean section. “There were no doctors at the PHC,” the relative said. However, health department officials said the delivery had been done in an emergency. |

As the torso of the baby was still stuck inside her, Bommidala was referred to

Medical College Hospital for further treatment. Later, the torso was removed through a vaginal delivery.

The health condition of Bommidala was stable, doctors treating her said.

“Initial reports we received from the centre show it was an intrauterine death. The baby had to be removed to save the life of a woman. Such fetus can be distorted and have loss of skin. Since the baby was just 1.5kg, they decided that vaginal labour would not be a hazard. But during vaginal delivery the head was separated,” said deputy director of public health Dr Senthil Kumar.

The directorate has sought for more reports from the primary health centre and the medical college. “Investigations are still on,” he said.