KOCHI: An artery forceps was found inside the stomach of a Punnapra native, five years after she underwent surgery at Alappuzha Medical College in Vandanam, her relatives said on Friday.
Usha Joseph was taken to a private hospital in Kochi on Friday to undergo surgery to remove the surgical instrument.
According to his relatives, Joseph underwent surgery to remove a fibroid from the uterus at the Faculty of Medicine in May 2021.
However, after the surgery, she suffered from recurring abdominal pain, her son Shibin told reporters.
Although she went to doctors at the same hospital several times, the cause of the pain was not determined, he claimed.
Recently, Joseph consulted a doctor, who suspected the pain was due to kidney stones, so he recommended an X-ray, he said.
X-rays showed an artery forceps, and doctors at the medical school then offered to remove it next week, Shibin said.
“However, we don’t want any more problems and have moved to a private hospital. The doctors here will examine and determine the exact location and will perform the surgery soon,” Shibin said.
He said the family wanted the instrument removed from his mother’s body as soon as possible, and claimed that doctors at the medical college said no compensation would be paid for the mistake.
“The doctors at the medical college told us that we can file a complaint if we want. We have now decided to file a complaint with the Ambalapuzha police station,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Lalithambika, a retired surgeon at Alappuzha Medical College, against whom the family had raised allegations of surgical error, told reporters that she did not perform the surgery.
“I had the surgery just before my retirement, when I wasn’t seeing any major cases. As head of the unit, my name was registered. I also had the surgery during the Covid period, and I was involved in it,” she said.
She also denied allegations that she took money from patients before performing surgeries.
“I never took any money from patients for any surgery. You can ask any patient I have seen,” she said.
She said it was not scissors but rather very small mosquito forceps that were seen on Joseph’s body.
“It’s a magnified view in an
She attributed the error to a glitch in the system at a government hospital.
“Normally, the floor nurse has to write the instruments used in surgery on the board and count them when the procedure is completed. However, in government hospitals, there is no floor nurse and such practice is not followed,” she said.
Lalithambika said Joseph had undergone surgery earlier as well and needed to examine whether the instrument remained in the body from that procedure.
“This tool can remain in the body for 20 to 30 years,” she said.
Health Minister Veena George said officials who were involved in the surgery and who are currently in government service will be suspended as part of the investigation.
She added that a preliminary investigation was conducted into the matter, and a report was submitted to the Director of Medical Education.
She said, “It is a painful accident and should not have happened. Based on the preliminary investigation report, the DME formed an expert committee that includes senior doctors to conduct a detailed investigation into the accident.”
She said that expert doctors from Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram Medical Colleges have been deputed to Alappuzha Medical College as part of the investigation.
She added: “The team is expected to submit a detailed report soon. Based on the report, all legal steps will be taken without any leniency. The report will also be referred to the police for legal action.”
George said she spoke with Joseph’s family, who also told her to consult the relevant doctor at her home.
“As part of the investigation, it will also be verified whether such consultation took place or not. The family’s allegation shows that after receiving non-practice allowance, they started practicing medicine at home,” she added.
Reacting to Dr Lalithambika’s remarks about the failure of the system in government medical colleges, the minister denied the allegation.
“They are WHO guidelines that all hospitals follow. Government hospitals are working according to all guidelines. It is easy to blame the system,” she said.
George said the allegation made by Dr Lalithambika itself amounted to a violation of norms.
George said: “How can a surgery be performed without a scrub nurse? If such a surgery was performed, that in itself would be a violation. The doctor claimed that she does not remember the patient but is sure that she will not perform the surgery. This in itself is suspicious.”
She said such mistakes would not be tolerated, noting that a similar incident was reported in 2017.
George said doctors could not downplay the incident by claiming that such equipment could remain in the body for a long time.
She added: “A medical committee will also be formed, as happened years ago, and it is currently in a private hospital.”
This article was generated from an automated news feed without any modifications to the text.
