Tanisha Bhise Death: PMC Review Cites Oxygen Deprivation and Clotting Disorder as Cause; Notice Issued to Doctor

Pune, 12th April 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has concluded that 26-year-old Tanisha alias Ishwari Bhise died due to a combination of hypoxic encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)—a finding that aligns with concerns raised about delayed treatment after she was allegedly denied admission at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital on March 28.

Bhise passed away on March 31, three days after the incident, prompting public outrage and multiple investigations. The PMC’s maternal death review committee formally submitted its findings to the state health department on Friday.

A senior PMC official familiar with the inquiry told Punekar News, “Our review considered all medical records and inputs from the treating physicians. The immediate cause of death was found to be hypoxic encephalopathy along with metabolic and clotting complications. The review spans her journey from marriage and pregnancy to the unfortunate outcome.”

The review panel, comprising health experts from PMC, clarified that this was part of a routine maternal death monitoring process, not a special committee formed for the case. “Every maternal death reported in Pune is evaluated to understand the medical causes and systemic gaps. The same standard protocol was followed here,” said another committee member.

Following Bhise’s death, massive protests erupted at the hospital on April 4. The Maharashtra government ordered three separate investigations—by the state health department, the charity commissioner, and the PMC. The health department’s panel was the first to flag lapses, pointing to a failure in administering timely care during the critical “golden hour.”

Medical experts said Bhise’s condition was complex and required urgent intervention. “Hypoxic encephalopathy indicates a lack of oxygen supply to the brain, often due to severe obstetric emergencies. Lactic acidosis can result when the body is starved of oxygen at the tissue level, and DIC is a life-threatening clotting issue frequently linked to complications like excessive bleeding or placental problems,” one expert explained.

“Early diagnosis and timely management are crucial. Delays or missed signs can quickly escalate into fatal outcomes,” the expert added.

Dr. Rajesh Dighe, Assistant Health Officer at PMC, said the maternal death review panel’s role is purely investigative and aims to improve public health systems. “This is not a blame game. We study each case to learn what went wrong and where the system needs strengthening,” he said.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, PMC recorded 70 maternal deaths in the city, highlighting the need for systemic vigilance and responsive care.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has initiated disciplinary proceedings. MMC Administrator Dr. Vinky Rughwani confirmed that a notice has been issued to Dr. Sushrut Ghaisas, the former gynaecologist at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, who allegedly asked Bhise’s family for a Rs 10-lakh deposit before admitting her. Dr. Ghaisas has been asked to submit a written explanation within four days.