Another surgery goof-up at GMC Kozhikode? Orthopaedic surgeon accused of implanting wrong rod
Kozhikode: Only a few days after a doctor at Kozhikode Government Medical College was suspended for operating on a patient's tongue instead of a finger, another surgery mix-up has been reported at the hospital, where an orthopaedic surgeon has been accused of implanting a 'wrong' rod in the patient's broken hand.
According to recent media reports, a case has been registered in this connection based on the complaint for medical negligence lodged by the patient's mother with the police. The medical college hospital authorities have refuted these allegations.
The Head of the Orthopaedics Department at the hospital has described these allegations as completely baseless, clarifying that the patient was given standard treatment and surgery appropriate for his condition.
Also Read: Kerala doctor suspended for conducting surgery on tongue instead of finger
As per the latest media report by Mathrubhumi, following a bike accident on May 11, the patient sustained a fracture on his hand. Initially, the patient was admitted to the Beach Hospital and later she was shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College, where surgery was performed and an implant was fixed.
However, soon after the surgery, the patient started experiencing severe pain. This prompted a follow-up X-ray, which revealed that the wrong rod had been implanted into the patient's hand, reports the New Indian Express.
It was during the post-surgery examination that the patient's family came to know that an implant of wrong measurement had been placed inside the patient's hand. Allegedly, the doctors informed the family members of the patient that the entire surgery would have to be redone, the report by Mathrubhumi stated.
Meanwhile, the patient's mother alleged that the treating doctor who performed the surgery allegedly behaved rudely after his mistake came to light. She told TNIE, "When we told the doctor that we are not ready for another surgery (on the same day), he shouted at us, 'Do what you want'."
"As advised by the hospital authorities, we had purchased items worth Rs 3,000, apart from the rod, for the surgery. But not a single item was used," she further alleged.
The patient's mother accused the treating doctor and the hospital of negligence and filed a complaint with the Medical College Police and a case was registered in this connection. A letter concerning the alleged incident was also forwarded to the DMO and the ACP. ACP Premachandan assured to take strict action if the allegations are proven right.
However, Mathrubhumi has reported that after conducting a preliminary investigation, a team of senior doctors have dismissed the possibilities of a goof-up.
Hospital Denies Allegations:
Meanwhile, the authorities at the medical college have refuted the allegations of medical negligence and the HOD of the Orthopedics Department insisted that the patient received standard treatment and appropriate surgery for his condition.
Mathrubhumi has reported that the HoD, Dr. Mathew informed that since the patient's fracture was located below the elbow, a plate was inserted after a through examination and surgery. The joint below the fracture was unstable. Therefore, an additional rod was temporarily placed for four weeks to stabilise it. He said this rod would be removed later, but the initial plate would remain. Clarifying that there was no switching of rods, he further added that the same standard procedure applied to the other patients was followed in this case also. Dr. Mathew further assured that the surgery was successful.
According to him, X-ray reports belonging to other patients who underwent similar surgeries for such fractures at the medical college this month would serve as evidence. He also urged that without understanding the facts, false allegations spreading misinformation about the medical college should not be made.
KGMCTA Criticises False Propaganda:
The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association has also extended its support to the medical college. The association stated that the procedure on the patient's hand involved fixing bones with plates and screws, and temporarily using a K-wire to prevent the bones in the wrist from slipping. After the surgery, a junior doctor noticed an issue with the K-wire placement and informed the patient regarding the possibilities of requiring repositioning. However, after consulting with a senior doctor, it was decided that repositioning was not necessary.
Issuing a statement in this regard, the Kozhikode unit of KGMCTA has condemned the "false and misleading propaganda" targeting the medical college and hospital.
This incident was reported only a few days after a doctor at the hospital was suspended for allegedly conducting surgery on a four-year-old girl's tongue instead of her finger.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the little girl was taken to the operating theatre at the Government Medical College Hospital on Thursday for the removal of her sixth finger. However, hours later, when she emerged from the surgery, it was discovered that the operation was performed on her tongue 'mistakenly'.
Apart from being suspended by the State Health Minister Veena George, the treating doctor, working at the medical college as an Associate Professor, was also booked under IPC Sections 336 (endangering the life or personal safety of others) and 337.
However, the Kozhikode unit of KGMCTA also refuted the reports stating that a wrong surgery was performed on the four-year-old. In a recent release, the KGMCTA functionaries C. Krishnan and Abdul Basith mentioned that a tongue tie, which is a condition that restricts the tongue's range of motion, was detected in the child when she was brought for surgery to remove her additional finger.
The association claimed that the parents of the child might have not noticed the condition earlier, but if it remained unaddressed, the child could have faced speech problems in the future. It would have been difficult to treat the condition after the complete development of the speech faculty, The Hindu has reported.
Therefore, the association stated that removing the tongue tie was given preference over the sixth finger. However, since the child's parents had insisted on conducting the surgery on the finger, the procedure was performed subsequently. The doctors claimed that the parents were also convinced about it later.
Referring to the action against the concerned Associate Professor attached to the Paediatrics Department, the KGMCTA functionaries added that the action was unfortunate.
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