Thiruvananthapuram: A woman in north Kerala has accused doctors of capturing visuals of her caesarian operation and then posting them on social media through WhatsApp.
The incident pertains to the delivery of the woman from Thrikkariuppur at the Payyannur Government Hospital.
The delivery took place nearly two months ago and the woman had given birth to triplets.
Based on the woman’s complaint, police have registered cases against seven people, including two gynaecologists, an anaesthetist and four nursing assistants. Police have registered the cases under non-bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code. A circle inspector at the Payyannur police station is heading the investigation.
State health minister V.S. Sivakumar has ordered health department director P.K. Jameela to institute an immediate inquiry into the incident and submit a report. District medical officials have already instituted a department-level inquiry into the allegation.
The matter came to public domain when a private television channel telecast the news, with visuals that were apparently posted by hospital staff. The woman has complained that the visuals were taken without her knowledge, and that her privacy was breached by posting the visuals on the internet.
District medical officials have also contacted the police cyber cell in order to institute a through inquiry into the serious allegation by the woman. State human rights commission member K.E. Gangadharan sought strict action against the alleged culprits.
Some local organisations including the Democratic Youth Federation of India and the Mahila Morcha have also joined in the protests against the alleged misconduct of the doctors and medical staff at the hospital.
