Central Hospital sues Dr Sangjukta Saha for Tk500cr over 'defamatory comments'

The deaths of a mother and her newborn due to medical negligence, a blame game, a media circus and now a Tk500 crore defamation case that Central Hospital authorities have filed against one of their own doctors: this is how things currently stand.

On Thursday, almost a month since the incident sparked outcry, Matiur Rahman, managing director of the Central Hospital, filed the case against Dr Sangjukta Saha with Dhaka's First Joint District Judge's Court.

The defamation suit says that Dr Sangjukta made "defamatory comments" at a press conference.

The suit with the eye-watering sum, however, has been in the works for a few weeks. 

The death of a mother and her newborn, following a cesarean operation at the Central Hospital in the capital on 14 June, had kicked off a firestorm of criticism and calls for justice.

All fingers were pointed at gynecologist Dr Sangjukta Saha, the doctor in-charge of the patient, Mahbuba Rahman Akhi.

With her back against the wall, Dr Sangjukta called a press conference on 20 June, where she squarely blamed the authorities.

She said the patient, Akhi, was admitted and treated without her knowledge. 

She also said the hospital authorities did not take her consent verbally or in writing while admitting Mahbuba to the hospital on 10 June.

"To cover up the real incident and hide their faults, the vested quarters are using all means and are always busy misleading people of the country with false information," she said.

The comments she made there did not sit well with the hospital authorities, who immediately served a legal notice to Dr Sanjgukta to withdraw her statement. 

Although the hospital authorities admitted negligence, they also tried to point the holes in Sangjukta's arguments.

In a press release issued on 2 July, hospital's Director Dr MAB Siddique and Vice Chairman Dr MA Kashem claimed that Dr Sangjukta Saha had directions for admitting patients coming to her, even in her absence.

"Such cases also occurred in previous times. Patients were admitted under her supervision on paper but treated by her nominated consultants," the release read.

They also said forensic analysis of her call records would reveal the truth.

On Thursday, Dr M A Kuasem, vice chairman of Central Hospital, confirmed to The Business Standard that a defamation case had been filed. 

Earlier on 14 June, Akhi's family members alleged that Central Hospital deceived them by saying gynaecologist Sangjukta Saha was present during the delivery of Akhi's child, leading to the newborn's death and major injuries to the mother.

A written complaint was filed with the Dhanmondi police station over the incident alleging deception and improper treatment by physicians Dr Shahjadi and Dr Munna. Dhanmondi police, later, arrested them.

Akhi, who was in critical condition following treatment at the Central Hospital, died while undergoing treatment at the capital's LabAid Hospital on 18 June.