Gynecologist Dr Anjum Ara opens up on newborn missing case

KARACHI: Prof Dr Anjum Ara Hassan, a gynecologist and obstetrician at Hamdard University Hospital, has responded to allegations surrounding the reported disappearance of a newborn at the hospital in Karachi.

In a video statement, Dr Anjum Ara, who heads the hospital’s gynaecology department, claimed medical records, examination findings and laboratory reports indicated that the woman was not pregnant.

According to Dr Anjum, the woman first visited the hospital in February and reported that she had missed her menstrual periods for around three months. An ultrasound conducted at the hospital at the time, however, did not confirm a pregnancy.

She said the woman was subsequently registered at the hospital and a medical file was created. The patient later visited the emergency department on several occasions, where she was diagnosed with hypertension.

Dr Anjum said the patient did not have proper consultations or direct examinations with her during this period. She also questioned entries in the patient’s medical file, saying some of the visits recorded in the file were not written by her and that she had not personally examined the patient during those visits.

The doctor further claimed that after completing what the patient believed to be 40 weeks of pregnancy, she was admitted to the hospital without being examined by Dr Anjum herself.

According to Dr Anjum, the woman also presented an ultrasound report from another hospital that indicated a pregnancy. She alleged that the report was fake.

The patient subsequently arrived at the emergency department with the documents, following which the duty doctor conducted a medical assessment.

Dr Anjum said several tests were performed, including cardiotocography (CTG), which is used during pregnancy and labour to monitor the fetal heart rate and uterine contractions. She claimed that the CTG at the hospital had detected the mother’s pulse as what appeared to be the fetal heartbeat.

Based on the clinical assessment and test results available at the time, a decision was made to perform an operation, she said.

However, according to Dr Anjum, the procedure revealed that the woman was not pregnant.

She further claimed that the hospital had received the patient’s medico-legal report and other relevant medical records. She said the findings of the medical examination and laboratory tests did not confirm the presence of a pregnancy.

Police said the matter was being examined on the basis of the available medical and legal records, while the circumstances surrounding the reported missing newborn remained subject to investigation.

Police further added the exact facts of the case and the various aspects surrounding the reported newborn would only be determined after completion of the ongoing investigation.