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An Indian woman and her newborn died Wednesday from a lack of medical
treatment because she is considered an "untouchable" in her country,
officials said.
Maya Devi, 28, gave birth outside of the maternity wing of Kanpur
Medical College in northern Uttar Pradesh state. The baby boy died
within minutes of his birth.
Devi was placed in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital because she
had a heart attack, but she died Thursday morning.
Several doctors, including the hospital's chief medical
superintendent, had refused to touch her or provide medical care as
she delivered her baby, the Press Trust of India re****ted.
Devi was a Dalit, or "untouchable," a group at the bottom of the caste
social ladder who have long been ostracized and forced into menial
professions despite laws banning discrimination.
Many high-class Hindus fear coming into contact with them.
Dr. Kiran Pandey, head of gynecology at the hospital, said she was an
hour's drive away in the state capital Lucknow at the time and rushed
back.
"We provided her the best medicines and treatment, but she suc***bed
to two cardiac arrests," Pandey said.
College principal Anand Swaroop has ordered an inquiry, as has a
district magistrate.
The state's chief minister, Mayawati, who won elections last year, has
ordered the doctors to be suspended and demanded an investigation.
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