Three specialist doctors at Ratnapura Teaching Hospital are facing a disciplinary inquiry despite successfully saving the life of a mother and her newborn during an emergency at a private hospital, sources claim.
Health officials initially alleged that the doctors violated Ministry of Health guidelines by providing emergency care outside official duty hours. However, sources familiar with the case told the Daily Mirror that the specialists acted within their professional obligations, and no procedural rules were breached.
The trio—comprising the pediatrician in charge of the premature baby unit, an anesthesiologist, and an obstetrician-gynecologist on 24-hour duty—responded to a critical case, ensuring the survival of both mother and child. While they reportedly did not inform the hospital director directly about the emergency, they had notified a deputy director.
Following the incident, the hospital director lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Health regarding their actions. In response, the specialists have requested an official inquiry and staged a token strike on August 20, asserting they were unfairly targeted for performing a life-saving procedure.
Hospital Director Dr. Imesh Prathapasinghe confirmed that services continued smoothly despite the strike but declined to comment on the specific actions of the three doctors.
The three specialists under scrutiny are the pediatrician in charge of the premature baby unit, an anesthesiologist, and an obstetrician-gynecologist assigned to 24-hour duty at the hospital.
