India doctors argue during operation where baby dies, but hospital says cases not related

As a woman gave birth to a baby girl on the operating table on Tuesday (Aug 29), two of her doctors hurled insults at each other despite their colleagues' attempts to diffuse the tension.

The heated exchange between a gynaecologist and an anaesthetist at India's Umaid Hospital was captured in a video clip that later went viral on the internet.

Times of India reported that they were quarrelling over the newborn's falling pulse rate, while BBC reported that the argument was sparked off by a query on whether the patient had eaten.

One of them allegedly walked out of the room after the argument, The Times of India reported.

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Several media reports also suggested that the baby who was being delivered in the video clip had died due to medical negligence.

But there's more to the story.

The woman had actually given birth to a healthy baby girl, the secretary of Rajasthan Legal Services Authority said.

Dr Ranjana Desai, superintendent of Umaid Hospital told BBC: "By the time I saw the video and conducted an internal inquiry, the media had already reported that this baby had died."

However, a baby did die that day.

There was another woman who was brought into the same operating theatre in a critical condition, Dr Desai revealed.

Although she underwent emergency Caesarean section, her baby died from severe birth asphyxia, but the newborn's death is reportedly unrelated to the argument. "These two incidents are not linked," Dr Desai told the BBC.

Both doctors have been released from their duties as the hospital prepares to submit a report to the high court by Sept 4.

The Rajasthan high court has also ordered a separate investigation into the incident.

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minlee@sph.com.sg