A 25-year-old woman named Rabea Akter, from Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area, passed away around 11 am on Sunday in Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, leaving her family questioning the quality of care she received.
Rabea had been admitted to the hospital 15 days ago in a state of pregnancy and gave birth to a baby boy the day after her admission.
According to Rabea’s sister, Kulsum, the complications began shortly after delivery when doctors identified issues with Rabea’s kidneys, necessitating dialysis. Kulsum emphasised that Rabea had shown no prior signs of kidney problems and had been in good health throughout her pregnancy.
Following the dialysis, Rabea was moved to a ward but tragically passed away this morning. Her sudden death has left her family in shock, struggling to comprehend how a healthy young woman could deteriorate so rapidly.
The family has raised serious allegations against the hospital staff, claiming that doctors failed to provide adequate oxygen during Rabea’s severe respiratory distress. Kulsum said that despite their repeated requests, oxygen was not administered promptly, which she believes contributed to her sister’s death.
Rabea’s relatives also reported being physically assaulted by hospital staff when they voiced their concerns. Nurses on duty confirmed that the patient was critically ill but alleged that they were subjected to abuse by Rabea’s family. They also reported that doctors faced physical aggression from their relatives.
The hospital’s duty doctors refused to comment on the incident without the permission of the hospital director. The director did not respond to multiple calls either.
A fourth-year student at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, who requested anonymity, disclosed that several students were confined for about an hour during the incident but were later released.
The incident has prompted calls for a thorough investigation to determine the true cause of Rabea’s death.
