"Unscientific" home births: Kerala doctors demand strict law

Thiruvananthapuram: The medical fraternity of Kerala has expressed strong concern over instances of childbirth taking place at home in the state and has called for strong legislation to be enacted against such criminal practices.

Raising strong protests over the death of a 35-year-old woman due to excessive bleeding while giving childbirth at her rented home in the Malappuram district on April 5, the Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA) said that "strong legislation should be enacted against such criminal practices." "It is deeply troubling that, even in this era when modern medical science has advanced so far, people are still willing to submit to treatment methods that lack any scientific basis. The organisation demands that strong legislation be enacted against such criminal practices," it said in a statement here.

The KGMOA, the sole organisation representing all categories of doctors in the health services, highlighted Kerala’s remarkable achievements in global health indicators, particularly its maternal and infant mortality rates, which rival those of developed countries.

The organisation emphasised that the benefits derived from these collective public health efforts are the rightful entitlement of every citizen. However, KGMOA raised concerns about the impact of regressive actions by certain vested interests, which are leading to the denial of quality healthcare for Keralites and the tragic loss of human lives.

Their statement also noted that while most of the approximately 300,000 deliveries in Kerala annually take place in hospitals, the occurrence of around 500 home births remains a worrying issue.

"A major reason for this is the attraction—whether knowingly or unknowingly—towards unscientific methods of treatment," KGMOA said.

It added that receiving proper medical assistance during pregnancy and after childbirth and living a healthy life in society is the right of every child.

"Denying this right is a punishable offence, and strong legislation is needed to ensure strict legal action against such offenders. Immediate intervention from the government is necessary in this matter," KGMOA added.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George has cautioned against promoting home births through social media after a tragic incident in Malappuram, where a woman lost her life during a home delivery.

The woman's husband has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. According to the minister, approximately 400 home births occur each year in the state.

"This year, a total of around two lakh deliveries have occurred, of which 382 were home births," George said.

(inputs from PTI)