A Pregnant Woman Was Standing In Queue For COVID-19 Test; What Happened Later?

Lucknow: A 22-year-old pregnant woman, delivered her baby while standing in queue for a COVID-19 test here on Monday. She was refused admission to the Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) till she cleared the corona test, IANS reported.

Palak was in labour when she arrived at the hospital but was asked to go to the triage area where tests are done through the TruNat machine. She could barely stand and when her amniotic sac ruptured, she collapsed and delivered the baby on the spot, the IANS report said. She and the newborn were immediately shifted to a ward.

An investigation has been ordered into the incident. Besides, a faculty member and two senior and two junior residents of the obstetrics and gynaecology department have been asked to go off duty, it was reported.

IANS quoted the woman’s husband, Raman Dixit, a daily wager as saying that she was nine months pregnant and labour pains started on Monday after which he rushed her to the hospital.

“However, staff in the emergency ward of gynaecology did not admit her saying that as per protocol, she first needed to undergo a Covid-19 test. The test costs Rs 1,500 and I was not carrying so much cash. I made my wife stand along with a relative in the queue for Covid-19 test and went home to bring the money. When I returned, I found that my wife had already given birth to a boy and was admitted in the ward,” said husband, Raman.

Dr Srikesh Singh, the spokesperson of RMLIMS, said that the woman and her baby are doing fine, IANS reported.