The Nepal Medical Council (NMC) has decided to investigate the death of a pregnant woman, Gita Pandey, in Butwal.
Pandey died during an abortion procedure after healthcare workers advised termination, saying the 12-week fetus was abnormal.
Following her death, Pandey’s family alleged that negligence by Khatry Nursing Home, Zonal Clinic, and Indulekha Clinic led to her death, and demanded action against those involved.
Pandey’s family also filed an application with the NMC requesting an investigation into the incident. After receiving the application, the NMC said that it has taken the incident seriously and will form a committee to investigate it.
NMC Registrar Dr Satish Kumar Deo said that they have taken the woman’s death during the abortion procedure as a serious matter, adding that the council is preparing to conduct an investigation.
“The council has taken the incident seriously. The victim’s side has also filed an application requesting an impartial investigation by the council. After holding discussions with other members, we will form a committee and move the investigation forward,” he said.
NMC member Dr Samrat Parajuli said that a probe committee will be formed under the leadership of a specialist doctor.
“We are holding discussions. Since the incident occurred in Butwal, we think a probe committee should be formed under the leadership of a specialist doctor from outside Butwal,” he said.
Pandey, 29, originally from Baganaskali Rural Municipality-2 and currently residing in Shankar Nagar, Tilottama Municipality, died on Monday during the abortion procedure.
According to her husband, Prakash Pandey, she had been visiting Khatry Nursing Home in Itabhatti, Butwal, for regular check-ups during her second pregnancy. On April 10, she visited there for a routine exam.
After a video X-ray (ultrasound) showed an abnormal fetus, healthcare workers suggested an abortion. When they visited Khatry Nursing Home on April 17 and 18 for the procedure, they were referred to Zonal Pharmacy with a prescription. On April 18, she was given two doses of medication and asked to visit the next day.
After taking the prescribed doses in the evening and morning, Gita visited Zonal Pharmacy again on April 19. There, she was given another dose and told to rest for two hours.
According to Prakash, Gita was then taken to Indulekha Clinic, where she lost consciousness. She was rushed to Lumbini City Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Following her death, family members started a protest on Tuesday morning, demanding action against the operators and doctors of Khatri Nursing Home, Zonal Pharmacy, and Indulekha Clinic.
Her husband alleged that negligence by all three facilities and their medical staff led to her death.
After the family filed a police complaint citing negligence by healthcare workers for her death and demanding action against them, police arrested three individuals.
According to the Area Police Office, Butwal, those arrested are Sandhya Basnet of Khatry Nursing Home, Nilam Gharti Magar of Zonal Pharmacy, and Khagendra Pandey of Indulekha Clinic.
The family has also demanded action against Dr DB Khatry of Khatry Nursing Home and Dr Satish Rupakheti of Indulekha Clinic.
On Tuesday evening, they padlocked Khatry Nursing Home.
Pandey is survived by her husband and their 5-year-old son.
According to police, her body has been kept at Lumbini Provincial Hospital.
