Botched Tubectomies in Telangana: Govt orders Criminal case against surgeon, disciplinary action against 13 medical personnel

Hyderabad: Taking action against the doctor, who conducted family planning surgeries on several women at a camp Ibrahimpatnam civil hospital, the Telangana Government has decided to lodge a criminal case against him after four women died due to the procedure.

Apart from registering case against Dr. Kumar, the State has also suggested disciplinary action against 13 on duty staff when the botched up tubectomy surgeries had been performed. The list includes the superintendent (who has now been suspended) of the CHC, Rangareddy district coordinator of health services, district medical and health officer (DMHO), deputy DMHO, deputy civil surgeon, head nurse, medical officers and supervisors, adds Indian Express.

Besides, the State has also transferred the District Medical Health Officer (DMHO) and district hospitals medical services coordinator (DCHS).

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that four women aged between 22 to 32 years lost their lives due to botched Double Punture Laparoscopy (DPL) for sterilisation at Civil Hospital in Ibrahimpatnam, Rangareddy district. Around 34 women underwent the procedure at the health center on August 25. The deceased women came from the villages in Ibrahimpatnam, Manchal mandals.

Following this, the officials had to shift the remaining 30 women who had undergone the same sterilization procedure to other hospitals including Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad for treatment.

Also Read: Telangana: 4 women die post botched sterilisation surgery, Govt orders probe

Earlier, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Telangana had issued a notice to the Rangareddy district Collector and sought a report on the situations that resulted in the death of those women.

As per the latest media report by Indian Express, while the government has not revealed in detail the findings of the inquiry report, in a order issued on September 23, the State recommended a slew of measures including mandatory 24-hour post-operative care at the facility, follow-up visits by the supervisors for a week, latest infection control procedures and protocols, refresher training for supervisors, quarterly review of sterilisation services and activities, and yearly skill assessment for surgerons.

The daily further adds that taking action against the responsible doctor, the Government has directed the DPH for filing a criminal case against the DPL Surgeon Dr. Kumar. Apart fro this, the Telangana Vidhana Parishad (TVVP) has been directed for initiating action against the superintendent of the CHC, Dr. Sridhar and submit a compliance report in this regard.

TVVP has been also directed by the Government for furnishing draft articles of charge along with relevant material for commencing disciplinary action against the in-charge district coordinator of Health Services, Dr. Jhansi Lakshmi. Already Dr. Lakshmi has been sacked and sent back to CHC, Shadnagar, where she will continue as a civil surgeon (specialist).

The Government order dated September 23 also mentions about initiating disciplinary action Dr Naga Jyothi, deputy DMHO, Ibrahimpatnam, DPL camp officer, head nurse at CHC Ibrahimpatnam, Deputy Civil surgeon of Dr Geeta, CHC Ibrahimpatnam; Dr Srinivas, medical officer at PHC Madgul; Dr Kiran, medical officer at PHC Manchal; Dr Poonam, medical officer at PHC Dandumailaram; and Alivlu, Mangamma, Jayalatha, and Janakamma, the supervisors at PHCs at Madgul, Manchal, and Dandumailaram respectively.

Further, the Director of Public Health (DPH) in its recommendations to the government has suggested to conduct DPL surgeries as fixed-day services along with other services in the hospital. It has also been suggested that DPL beneficiaries are kept in post-operative care for at least 24 hours as a mandatory measure.

In his report, the DPH also suggested that the concerned supervisor visits the house of the beneficiary at least once within 24 hours of discharge and twice within a week post-surgery. Similar visits may be conducted by the medical officer as well, at least once at home within first two days of post-surgery. The DPH also suggested that the superintendent, surgeon and the deputy DHMO verify the processes as per the SOPs for pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care.

Finally, the need for a refresher training for all supervisory staff has also been suggested by the DPH after identifying the possible signs of complications. Apart from this, it has also been recommended that the commissioner of Health and family welfare assesses the skills and knowledge of DPL surgeons once a year by a competent authority.

The SOPs also mention about conducting only 30 family planning surgeries on a single day by a surgeon or institute. The report also recommended for the hospital infection control committee, chaired by the superintendent to meet every Monday for reviewing the infection control protocols, and organising refresher training course for all infection control officers.

While commenting on the Government action, the State Health Minister T Harish Rao told the Times of India, "Based on the report given by the committee appointed by the government under the director of public health, the government has initiated strict measures. The government has ordered regular training measures for all 13 medical personnel."

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