‘I won't survive’: Woman dies hours after C-section at MP hospital, newborn also dead

A 25-year-old woman and her newborn died at a government hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa, hours after she was seen in a video crying and pleading with her family to take her away.

Kalpana Mishra, a resident of Hatwa in Rewa district, was admitted to Sanjay Gandhi-Gandhi Memorial Hospital for the delivery of her first child. Her family has alleged medical negligence, while the hospital has denied any lapse by doctors.

Woman seen pleading for help

Kalpana underwent a C-section at around 8.30 pm on August 26 and delivered a baby. Both the mother and child died shortly afterwards.

A video recorded before her death has since surfaced. In it, Kalpana appears distressed inside the women's ward, crying and attempting to reach her relatives.

“If this kind of treatment continues, these people will kill me,” Kalpana is heard telling her mother.

“I won't survive. Please save me, my life is in danger,” she says in the video.

At one point, a staff member is heard asking her, “Have you gone mad?” Kalpana continues to cry and alleges that she is not receiving proper treatment.

Family alleges negligence

Kalpana's father, Ramsharan Mishra, alleged that he repeatedly asked doctors to examine his daughter and monitor her condition but did not receive adequate response.

He also raised questions over the anaesthesia administered to her, saying relatives suspected that she may have received an excessive dose.

“Kalpana was my only daughter. I had sold land worth Rs 15 lakh for her wedding. Today, she has left us. The police must register an FIR against those responsible for the negligence. The doctor on duty and the staff should be suspended. If our demands are not met, we will not allow the post-mortem to be conducted,” Ramsharan Mishra said.

Two nurses suspended, inquiry ordered

Following the deaths, Kalpana's relatives staged a sit-in outside the hospital and demanded action. After discussions with hospital authorities, they agreed to allow the post-mortem.

Two nursing officers, Sadhana Verma and Seema Mujalde, were suspended on a prima facie basis. A high-level committee has also been formed to investigate the allegations.

Per NDTV, Dean Dr Sunil Agrawal said, “This is a deeply tragic incident in which both the mother and the child have died. Action will be taken in accordance with the complaints received. A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted, and two nursing officers have been suspended. This is a medical matter. Why the patient did not regain consciousness is a subject of investigation, and action will be taken against whoever is found responsible based on the inquiry's findings,” Dr Agrawal said.

Hospital Superintendent Dr Rahul Mishra denied negligence by doctors.

“The woman was treated according to medical protocols. There was no negligence on the part of the doctors. However, inquiries are being made regarding the family's allegations. The body has been handed over to the family following the post-mortem,” Dr Mishra was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Specialist doctor shortage in MP

The incident comes against the backdrop of a shortage of medical staff in Madhya Pradesh. Official 2025-26 data shows 3,948 of the state's 5,443 sanctioned specialist doctor posts are vacant.

Of 6,513 sanctioned medical officer positions, 2,689 are also vacant.