2014-11-13 15:49:00

Indian Archbishop: Sterilization deaths a shocking and avoidable human tragedy


(Vatican Radio)  A doctor arrested in connection with the deaths of 13 women at two sterilisation camps in central India has denied responsibility for the tragedy. Dr Gupta rejected allegations that his equipment was rusty or dirty and blamed medication given to the women after the surgery.

A total of 83 women had the surgeries as part of a free government-run mass sterilization campaign but dozens became ill afterwards and around 16 women remain in a critical condition.

4 million Indians are sterilised every year and activists say a system of quotas encourages officials and doctors to cut corners.

Archbishop Prakash Mallavarapu is the chair of the healthcare office for the Catholic Bishops Conference of India. He spoke to Susy Hodges about this tragedy.   

Listen to the interview with Archbishop Prakash Mallavarapu of Vishakhapatna: 

The Indian archbishop described the deaths of these women following sterilization as "one of those avoidable human tragedies” especially affecting poor people living in rural areas. He says the evidence suggests that some degree of “negligence was prevalent” together with a lack of concern over the state of the medical equipment and the hygienic situation in these government-run sterilization camps. 

Describing it as a “shocking situation, Archbishop Mallavarapu said: “Everybody is angry,” (over what has happened). 








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