Doctor disappears after mother, baby die during C-section

A doctor has gone into hiding after allegedly killing a woman and her unborn baby during a caesarean delivery at a private hospital in Comilla. The victims - Soniya Akter, 19, and her baby - died at the operating table of Royal Hospital and Diagnostic Centre in Madhabpur last Wednesday. A doctor named M Sharif Ahmed, who conducted the surgery, is currently on the run. Abdul Mannan, a relative of Soniya, told the Dhaka Tribune that she was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday morning after she went into labour. After performing some tests, Dr Sharif told Soniya’s relatives that the mother and the baby are in good health. He recommended a C-section instead of a normal delivery. Sharif and his associates then took Soniya to the operation theatre. After more than an hour, the doctor handed over a baby to Mannan and claimed that the infant is not crying due to illness. The baby was immediately rushed to Debidwar Upazila Health Complex, where the duty doctor declared the infant dead. Dr Sharif called Mannan, who was still at the health complex, after two hours and told him that he is taking Soniya to Comilla Medical College Hospital. Hearing this, Mannan rushed to CMCH. The duty doctor there declared Soniya dead on arrival. Sharif made his escape as soon as he learned that the woman had died. Relatives of the victims and local people vandalised Royal Hospital and Diagnostic Centre after learning about the failed operation that claimed the life of Soniya and her baby. Royal hospital authority and M Sharif Ahmed could not be reached for comments. Brahmanpara police station Officer-in-Charge Md Shajahan Kabir said the bodies of the victims have been sent to CMCH for autopsy. He added that a case is being filed for vandalism at Royal hospital.