Kerala Surgeon allegedly operates on wrong leg of 60-year-old patient, FIR registered

Kozhikode: In a major operation blunder, a surgeon at Kozhikode's National Hospital in Mavoor Road on Tuesday operated on the right leg of a patient instead of her left leg which had a nerve injury, following which an FIR was registered against the doctor.  

The 60-year-old patient Sajina Sukumaran, who is a Kakkodi native had come to the hospital due to pain in her left leg after it got injured a year back by getting stuck in a door. 

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She had consulted the doctor at his private clinic, and she was taken to the hospital on 20th February for surgery which took place on Tuesday. 

Speaking to TOI, Sajina said, "When I regained consciousness, I sensed a heaviness in my right leg. I sought treatment in my left leg and it was that leg which was prepared for surgery. I was shocked to see that they had done the surgery on my right leg. Then I called the nurse and asked her to call the surgeon and then he realized it." 

Stating that her right leg had no problems, Sajina said that she did not know what kind of surgery was performed on her right leg. The patient's daughter said that when they confronted the doctor about it, he said that there was a block in her mother's right leg as well. However, her daughter alleged, "But they hadn't taken an x-ray or scan of that leg to diagnose it." 

However, a video of Dr. Behirshan, the orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital admitting to the negligence has been doing rounds on social media in which he admitted that he had operated on the wrong leg and had no explanations to offer, as per a media report in the Mathrubhumi. In the video, the relatives of the patient was seen talking to the doctor and other hospital representatives inside an office. 

After the incident, the patient's relatives filed a complaint with the DMO and the health minister. Health Minister Veena George has reportedly asked the Kozhikode district medical officer to submit a report on the case, as per a media report in the Hindustan Times. An FIR was registered under Section 366 (rash and negligent act to endanger human life) of the Indian Penal Code, said the police.

Further, a preliminary report by the district medical officer also reiterates the women's point of view. According to the report, serious lapses were reported from the doctor and the hospital's side. 

The hospital authorities, in an attempt to hush up the matter, had reportedly told the family that the woman also had a problem with her right leg and the doctor decided to operate on the "relatively less damaged leg first". The family alleged that the hospital had also tried to manipulate the hospital records as well. 

The woman was shifted to Kozhikode Medical College after the incident. The family members of the woman said that they are planning to approach the human rights body for proper compensation.