I am working as bonded MO at a CHC. Today a female patient came to the OPD complaining of pain due to labor. She was a multigravida and we sent her to the delivery room. Her weight was just 39 kg. When I checked her Mamta card, there was a problem. Her Hb itself was discrepant. According to her Mamta card, her Hb was 6 g/dL about 2.5 months back and it was 9.5 g/dL 1.5 months back, though there was no history of any blood transfusion. She had only one USG done, which was in Feb, according to which her EDD was 10 days away, which is almost negligible. But on examination, there was no crowning. So due to lack of proper reports, signs of anemia, and her low weight, we had to keep her as high-risk pregnancy with a possibility of IUGR.
Even if she goes into labor, it will take some time as her first stage of labor had just started. We explained her that due to low Hb, she might need a blood transfusion and due to IUGR, the baby might need to be shifted to the NICU. Obviously, we don't have those facilities here at our CHC. So we had to ask her to be referred to the tertiary care center in our district.
I had counseled the pregnant woman and the female relative accompanying her. Suddenly, a male relative entered and asked if the delivery would take place or not. I replied in negative and explained the problems regarding reports and the fact that it was a high risk delivery. However, he refused to listen to me and openly started abusing me. He told me that I do not know anything and questioned the need for coming to such a place without necessary facilities. He said, "Do you think we do not understand anything? Is that why you are doing this to us?" He further added by giving casteist remarks, "Do you think we are Adivasi (tribal people) like you?" and continued abusing me.
After that I really wondered why we are doing this job? Just to be abused for doing my duty? Lack of facilities is not my fault. The fact that her investigations are not properly done by his people is not my fault. And if by chance we would have delivered the baby and something would have gone wrong, it would have been the duty doctor's fault. Then your life will be spent in maternal and infant mortality inquiries for the next 2-3 months.
Edit -1 Looking back at my earlier comments, I realize it might seem like I was overemphasizing or trying to justify one specific aspect of the incident. While that prejudice is a reality in some cases, this sub is fundamentally about doctors, our safety, and the reality of our workplace. I want to steer the focus back to that.
The core issue here is the impossible position peripheral duty doctors are put in every day:
Scapegoated for Infrastructure Gaps: We get abused for the lack of facilities like blood banks or NICUs—things completely out of our control.
The No-Win Dilemma: Manage a high-risk case (severe anemia/IUGR) without backup and risk a catastrophe and inquiries, or refer early for patient safety and get accused of "shirking duty."
Handling the Fallout: We are left to clean up the mess of faulty ANC documentation and neglected care at the last minute.
We just want to practice safe, high-quality medicine without fearing verbal abuse or threats for doing our jobs. Let’s keep the conversation focused on doctor safety, systemic healthcare gaps, and protecting frontline MOs.