KDMC Orders Probe Into False Minor Pregnancy Tests at Dombivli Hospital
The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) on Tuesday constituted an inquiry committee to investigate allegations that Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli conducted unauthorized pregnancy tests on a minor girl that returned positive, despite subsequent outside tests coming back negative.
The civic body's action comes after the teenager's family reported immense emotional trauma caused by the conflicting medical reports issued by the hospital staff.
According to the minor’s family, the girl was admitted to Shastri Nagar Hospital last month after being diagnosed with low haemoglobin levels. While under care, doctors reportedly conducted a random urine pregnancy test without informing her parents or securing their consent. The test returned a positive result.
When the family questioned the initial outcome, hospital staff conducted a repeat urine test and a sonography. The family claimed that these subsequent procedures at the municipal facility also indicated pregnancy, leaving them and their daughter shocked.
BJP corporator Dipesh Mhatre, who intervened in the issue, alleged that doctors disclosed the sensitive medical findings directly in front of the young girl, leaving her visibly distressed.
To verify the hospital's findings, the family chose to privately conduct independent testing outside the facility. They arranged for two separate urine tests using different pregnancy kits as well as a blood test. All of these external tests reportedly came back negative, bringing relief to the family but highlighting severe discrepancies in the hospital's testing processes.
Mhatre raised serious concerns over the hospital's handling of the situation, questioning why such a sensitive medical procedure was carried out on a minor without prior parental consent and why the results were announced in her presence. He called for a thorough investigation into the tests, the accuracy of the laboratory reports, the conduct of the medical personnel involved, and whether standard protocol for treating minor patients was violated.
Following the complaint and intervention, Chief Medical Officer Dr Deepa Shukla stated that KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel ordered the formal setup of an inquiry committee to probe the entire incident.
