A look at the abuse of pregnant women by health workers

By Rema Nagarajan Obstetric violence, the abuse of pregnant women by health workers, is shockingly common in the Indian medical system though it is rarely talked about. Recently, three infants died in Uttar Pradesh's Balia district after their mothers were forced to deliver on the floor even though beds were available at the primary health centre (the attendants reportedly didn't want to deal with soiled sheets). Though the violation of reproductive rights is not yet considered a human rights issue in India, in the Balia case, the National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance and issued notices to the state government and concerned officials. But the fact is that...