Kannur gastroenterologist booked after patient alleges fish bone left in throat

Kerala: A case has been registered against a gastroenterologist at KIMS Sreechand Hospital after a patient alleged that a fish bone remained stuck in her throat following an endoscopic procedure at the hospital. 

The patient claimed that she continued to experience throat pain after being discharged and later required another surgery at a government hospital to remove the retained fish bone.   

According to the police, the case was registered after a preliminary inquiry into a complaint submitted by the patient to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kannur.

In her complaint, the patient alleged that she was admitted to the private hospital after a fish bone became stuck in her throat. Following an endoscopic procedure, she was informed that the fish bone had been removed and was subsequently discharged. However, she continued to experience severe throat pain even after leaving the hospital.   

The patient later sought treatment at Pariyaram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), where a CT scan reportedly revealed that another fish bone was lodged in her throat. She subsequently underwent surgery to remove the retained fish bone. 

Following the incident, the patient approached the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kannur, alleging medical negligence and physical suffering due to the treatment she received. Based on her complaint and a preliminary inquiry, the Kannur Town Police registered a case and initiated further investigation into the matter. Authorities are expected to examine the medical records and other relevant evidence as part of the probe.

The hospital, however, denied the allegations of medical negligence. According to the hospital management, the patient underwent an endoscopic procedure after an X-ray confirmed the presence of a foreign body in her throat.

According to The Hindu, the hospital said the treating gastroenterologist had advised a CT scan after the procedure, in line with standard medical protocol, to confirm that no additional foreign body remained in the patient's throat. However, the patient allegedly declined to undergo the scan citing financial constraints and took discharge against the doctor's advice. She was also asked to return for review after two days.  

The hospital maintained that, contrary to the complaint, no surgery was performed and that only an endoscopic procedure had been done. It added that all procedures and medical records were fully documented, and that it had cooperated with the police investigation.