Last Updated:
Neither Sohini nor her husband had posted about the tragedy, but a video went viral in which a woman identifying herself as Sohini’s sister-in-law accused the doctor of negligence
Sohini Ganguly mourns her newborn’s death amid social media uproar. (Faebook/@Sohini Ganguly)
The death of social media influencer Sohini Ganguly‘s newborn has sparked a storm of debate across platforms, with blame, counterclaims and emotional appeals dominating the past five days. While family members allege negligence on the part of the doctor, others have turned their attention to Sohini’s lifestyle and her social media presence.
Breaking her silence on social media on Tuesday, Sohini wrote in her Facebook post, “What’s going on across social media centered around the disaster that has come down in our lives on August 22, is a past of our imagination. We are devastated by different people’s imagination and discussions regarding that. Nanan videos, post, the doctor’s video and his comment section are making us both weak in this time of mourning. We have not made any official or unofficial statement on our behalf. In these five days, we had no limit to think. We don’t want anything to be centered on this issue that disturbs our mental state more. We will surely put the details of all the events happening with us, we will stand before you with testimonies, proofs. But at this moment we are mentally and physically unable to answer your questions, trolls, fights. Please give us time; let our family handle the pain of losing a child. Expecting this kind of sympathy and help from you in this time of grief. Hopefully, this condolence will prevent you from spreading this post on social media during the unimaginable, sudden crisis happening in our lives. Kindly stop spreading post regarding our acute loss.”
Sohini Ganguly, a familiar face on social media, had shared her pregnancy journey with thousands of followers. Her joy was unfiltered, her excitement contagious. But the long-awaited moment of motherhood ended in heartbreak, as she lost her newborn before she could hold him.
As news spread, speculations flooded social media. Neither Sohini nor her husband Anirban posted about the tragedy, but a video went viral in which a woman identifying herself as Sohini’s sister-in-law accused the attending doctor of negligence.
Facing mounting criticism online, Dr Shivendranath Das, also known as SN Das, issued a lengthy statement to explain his side. “The matter was becoming one-sided, so I thought it best to set the record straight. I received a call early on the morning of the 22nd from a woman under my care who had not felt her baby move since the previous night. She was a first-time mother. I was aware that her blood pressure was high, the baby was very small, and she was slightly older. I advised her to come to my home immediately. They arrived around 8 am and after testing, it was found the baby’s heartbeat was not audible and the mother’s blood pressure was dangerously high. I immediately advised hospital admission with oxygen for further investigation,” he explained.
He added that Sohini had been prescribed blood pressure medication and advised bed rest. “On Friday, Sohini’s family called at 10:45 am and said that an ultrasound had been done somewhere outside and everything was fine. She also asked her to be admitted to the hospital. But they all wanted to go to the doctor once,” he said.
According to Dr Das, after her admission to hospital, his team and other specialists confirmed the absence of a heartbeat. “Since I have not heard any heartbeat since admission, there was no indication to perform a cesarean section for the dead baby at that time,” he said.
The doctor claimed that following the confirmation, the family accused him of negligence, attempted to vandalise the hospital, and even tried to assault him at his residence in Kanchrapara in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. “In the evening, the family members came and attacked me. I still said, let’s admit the patient to a nearby hospital, let’s see if there is a normal delivery. I will stay there all the time,” he stated.
At the hospital later that night, he decided a cesarean was necessary to save Sohini’s life. “During the cesarean section, it was discovered that Sohini had concealed accidental hemorrhage,” Dr Das said, explaining that this condition, internal bleeding, is more common in women with high blood pressure, advanced maternal age, or excessive activity. Despite risks, he performed the surgery and was able to save Sohini.
“Later, I told the patient’s family that the infrastructure needed to treat this case is not here. If plasma or platelets are to be given, it will not be available here. So they transferred her. Blood was given. Now she is completely healthy. But since admission, we did not find any heartbeat of the baby. So the question remains about the first ultrasound report… It is sad for me too. But I did not go inside and kill the baby. Out of 100 pregnant mothers, 5 percent die without any reason. In this case, there was a reason,” he explained.
He also noted that medical reports supported his diagnosis, including evidence of blood clots and a condition described as “Ovelia’s uterus”.
Addressing the trolls, Dr Das said, “Is it fair to speak like this without knowing the full story? Some are even claiming I killed their father, but I’m a gynaecologist. I’ve never treated a male patient in my entire career. I stayed silent out of respect for the mother. But with everything being said on social media and all that I’ve had to endure, I felt compelled to share my side of the story. I didn’t even charge a single penny for the surgery or the treatment.”
As accusations and counter-claims swirl online, Sohini’s post makes clear the family’s anguish. Her words plead for privacy in the face of personal tragedy. “Please give us time; give our family a chance to cope with the pain of losing a child,” she wrote.
For now, the grieving couple has promised to share their side of the story with evidence, but only once they are ready. Until then, the heated debate on social media continues, with the tragedy still under investigation and unanswered questions about what exactly went wrong.
