Relatives of a pregnant woman on March 21 took the medical staff of the civil hospital to task after she died due to acute negligence of the doctors and para-medical staff of Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Civil Hospital, Jalandhar.

Irked over the death of the woman, hundreds of supporters, residents of the ward and relatives of the deceased woman gathered at the civil hospital soon after the received that the woman, a resident of Ajit Nagar adjoin Kazi Mandi died due to the sheer negligence of the medical staff of the hospital.

They protested against the staff and shouted slogans against the hospital administration demanding suspension of the staff at the maternity and children ward of the hospital. The deceased was admitted in the maternity ward of the civil hospital late last night after she experienced labour pains. She was also suffering from respiratory problems also at the time; she was brought to the hospital. The medical staff arranged an oxygen cylinder to treat her respiratory problem which found to be empty. The staff directed the relatives of the deceased woman to immediate arrange for another cylinder. In the meanwhile, the woman died.

Congress councilor of the ward Pallan Swami and relatives of the deceased woman demanded strict action against the erring staff. Medical Superintendent Dr. Jasmit Kaur Bawa said that the woman was already under treatment for her respiratory and lung infection. She said that the matter would be probed and action will be taken against the staff for the negligence of providing empty cylinder to control respiratory problem of the deceased.