The association says that the incident of a baby dying during childbirth at the Trincomalee District General Hospital has no connection with the trade union action taken by the Government Medical Officers’ Association.
Addressing a special media briefing today (11), the association’s Vice President, Specialist Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa said that since maternity ward treatment is emergency treatment, doctors will never withdraw from emergency treatment during trade union action.
Meanwhile, it appears that a group is deliberately trying to accuse the Government Medical Officers’ Association of the incident, and although it has been learned through the media that the relevant doctors have been suspended, no written notification has been issued in this regard so far.
Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa also pointed out that although the doctors in question were accused of dereliction of duty, they were engaged in private practice outside their working hours.
Following a preliminary investigation conducted by the Ministry of Health in connection with an incident in which a baby died during childbirth at the Trincomalee District General Hospital on April 9, two doctors at the hospital have been suspended.
This is in relation to several allegations including dereliction of duty and engaging in private practice during working hours. An obstetrician and gynecologist at the hospital and a senior resident doctor at the hospital have been suspended.
Allegations have been made against the hospital’s resident doctor that the specialist and the doctor in question did not arrive at the delivery room despite the fact that they had been called by the hospital’s resident doctor on several occasions due to a problematic situation that arose during the delivery.
It has also been alleged that the two doctors in question had been involved in a caesarean section at a private hospital at the time, and the Ministry of Health has conducted a preliminary investigation into the incident.