Outrage in Gujarat: Dr. Arrested After Drunken C‑Section Gone Wrong
On Tuesday, a senior doctor from Gujarat’s government‑run Sonawala Hospital was hauled into police custody after being caught working under the influence. The incident turned a routine labor into a tragedy that left two lives lost.
The Tragic Turn of Events
- Ms Kamini Chanchi, a 22‑year‑old laboring in Botad district, was brought to the hospital late Monday night.
- Dr P. J. Lakhani, who’d been with the hospital for 15 years, performed a caesarean section while allegedly drunk.
- The newborn girl died almost immediately after birth, and the mother bled heavily, eventually succumbing on the way to a private facility.
- Family members sued the doctor for negligence.
Police Action and Investigation
Botad police superintendent Harshad Mehta confirmed that a breath‑alyser was used to prove the doctor’s inebriated state. He also noted:
“Dr Lakhani was booked under the Prohibition Act and arrested. His blood sample was sent for testing.”
—Harshad Mehta, India Today, Wednesday
The deceased’s body was taken to Bhavnagar Civil Hospital for a post‑mortem. The autopsy report will be forwarded to a committee established by the hospital, led by a civil surgeon, to determine the exact cause of death.
Potential Legal Consequences
India Today added that the doctor could face additional charges if the investigation finds evidence of negligence or misconduct. The doctored mix of medical error and drunk driving creates a clear line of liability.
In other headlines: India doctors argue during operations where baby dies, but hospitals say cases are not related.
Should you need to find out more, you’ll have to scroll through the official reports.
