Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh: A woman from Jorai village in Uttar Pradesh reportedly gave birth on the pavement outside Maharaja Chet Singh Government District Hospital on September 30 after allegedly being denied admission at the facility.
According to reports, the woman, identified as Rani, had reached the hospital seeking maternity care. Her family alleged that she was refused admission because of her caste, with a nurse reportedly telling them, “Musahar ho… नहीं कराएंगे डिलिवरी.” The allegation has triggered concerns over the treatment of vulnerable patients at government healthcare facilities.
Rani eventually delivered her baby outside the hospital, with family members holding up a colorful sheet to provide privacy and shelter during the delivery. Images of the incident have drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding the case.
Hospital officials, however, denied that caste discrimination was responsible for the incident. They said Rani was suffering from severe anaemia, with a reported haemoglobin level of 5 grams, and required referral and specialized medical care.
Following the incident, an inquiry was conducted into the circumstances surrounding the case. The inquiry reportedly found negligence on the part of hospital staff, following which disciplinary action was taken. A doctor was terminated, one staff member faced a salary cut, and other staff were transferred.
Rani and her newborn are now reported to be stable and receiving treatment. The incident has raised questions about patient care, emergency maternity services and the need to ensure that vulnerable patients receive timely medical attention without discrimination.
