Fadnavis Initiates Investigation into Death of Pune Woman Citing 'Hospital Negligence'

Mumbai, April 4 (NationPress) In the wake of protests regarding the passing of 30-year-old Tanisha Bhise at Pune’s Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital, allegedly due to insufficient urgent care, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken the matter seriously. On Friday, he mandated the establishment of an inquiry committee chaired by the Joint Commissioner of Charity in Pune to probe the incident.

In parallel, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced that the Health Department is conducting a comprehensive investigation through a committee of expert physicians.

“I have personally directed the District Magistrate to expedite this investigation with transparency and fairness. While the hospital management has shared its perspective, appropriate measures will be taken based on all relevant factors. The government acknowledges the feelings of residents, institutions, and organizations protesting this situation, and strict legal action will follow against those deemed culpable based on the investigation’s findings. Citizens are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities,” he stated.

Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar mentioned that a committee has been established to review the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, who reportedly was denied admission at Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital over an advance payment issue and passed away after giving birth to twins at another facility. He emphasized that maternal fatalities are intolerable, and the department is undertaking a thorough inquiry.

The Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, Rupali Chakankar, posted on X stating, “Instructions have been given to the Pune municipal commissioner for a detailed investigation.”

Moreover, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s health department has served a show-cause notice to Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital concerning the case.

Previously, the Chief Minister instructed the state’s Law and Justice Department Principal Secretary and the Charity Commissioner to ensure the implementation of the Charity Patient Scheme, as directed by the High Court, is executed effectively by all charitable hospitals.

“All charitable hospitals must obtain approval from the 'Charity Hospital Help Desk' via the online system to allocate reserved beds for patients from underprivileged groups. Immediate instructions should be issued to charitable hospitals regarding this matter. The inspection report and recommendations from the committee have been submitted through the inspection team formed by the Department of Law and Justice. Prompt action should be taken on those recommendations. The government has sanctioned the hiring of 186 charitable health workers in charitable hospitals, and these positions should be filled without delay,” he added.

The controversy arose following Tanisha Bhise's death at Manipal Hospital, Baner, on March 31, just two days after giving birth to twins at Surya Hospital. BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe noted that Tanisha was the spouse of his secretary, Sushant. In a video message, Gorkhe alleged that the authorities at Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital declined admission due to the non-payment of an advanced deposit of Rs 10 lakh. Sources from Gorkhe’s office indicated that a complaint has been lodged at the Alankar police station.

Her death sparked protests outside Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital, where demonstrators threw coins at the facility and obscured its nameplate.

Meanwhile, the management of Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital issued a three-page statement after its internal committee of four members examined the incident and provided a report. They refuted the allegations, asserting that the woman had received treatment at the hospital since 2020.

“Bhise underwent surgery in 2022, receiving a 50 percent discount on her treatment costs. The hospital had advised the victim to consider adoption due to safety concerns for delivery. She was instructed to attend medical check-ups every week but missed several appointments. It is standard for hospitals to recommend multiple antepartum check-ups for pregnant women, yet she did not comply,” the statement detailed.

“An expert committee led by Dr. Dhananjay Kelkar, the medical director, including Dr. Anuja Joshi, the medical superintendent, Dr. Samir Jog, the ICU in charge, and Dr. Sachin Vyavahare, the administrator, investigated the situation and confirmed that the woman consulted Dr. S. Ghaisas on March 15 this year, accompanied by a report from an IVF center. The medical team classified the pregnancy as extremely high-risk and advised weekly check-ups, which she failed to attend as scheduled on March 22,” the statement continued.

“On March 28, the woman, along with her husband and a relative, arrived at the hospital’s OPD at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Ghaisas assessed the patient and recommended hospitalization, keeping her under observation due to the high-risk nature of her pregnancy. However, both the woman and her husband chose to leave the hospital,” the statement explained.

According to the committee’s findings, it was determined that medical advice had not been adhered to. “When advised about the necessity of an advance payment for admission, the suggestion was disregarded. As a result of the unfortunate passing of the patient, misleading statements have emerged,” it added.