Kozhikode: A clinic claiming to be a naturopathic maternity centre was sealed on Wednesday by district medical authorities after a 23-year-old mother died.
The ‘Sprouts International, Naturopathic Maternity Studio’ at Manjery was embroiled in controversy after the death of a woman from Athavanad early on Tuesday.
The maternity clinic was functioning inside ‘Ernad hospital’ in Manjery claiming to provide ground birthing and water birthing facilities.
According to deputy DMO, Dr R. Renuka, the mother died due to bleeding and the naturopath doctors did not consult the the gynaecologist at Ernad hospital even at a critical stage. “A stitch could have saved her life. The centre is being run by BNY (Bachelor of Natur-opathy and Yoga) qualified doctor couple. However, as per our information, BNY holders are experienced in handling labour room and no other BNY doctors took care of delivery,” she told DC.
Curiously, relatives of the deceased had no complaint. “It was God’s decision,” they said.
According to sources, the same doctor had to shut his clinic at Venniyur near Kottakkal last year after a few notorious cases including the death of a newborn occurred.
“The DMO team went there as a part of maternal death auditing. There was no record of the admission of the deceased. Everything was maintained in a clandestine manner and BNY holders are neither qualified nor permitted to handle delivery cases,” said DMO Dr Sakeena K. She said the DMO report will be handed over to the district collector.
However, a woman, said to be a BNY doctor at the clinic told DC over phone that the death was not due to bleeding and the deceased had a family history of such deaths.
