Patient Dies of Septicemia after Sponge Left in Abdomen, FIR against 4 doctors

Pilibhit: An FIR has been registered against four doctors of Pilibhit-based Autonomous State Medical College (ASMC) for alleged medical negligence, following the death of a woman from septicemia after a surgical sponge was left inside her abdomen during a hysterectomy in 2004.

The incident occurred in December 2004, but it has only recently come to light after an investigation revealed a disturbing series of errors and concealment of facts by the medical professionals involved.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that five doctors have been found guilty of medical negligence for allegedly leaving a surgical sponge inside a patient's abdomen while conducting a hysterectomy. Last year, on December 5, the patient died from septicemia, and after investigating the matter, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Pilibhit found five doctors guilty.

Also Read: 5 Doctors Found Guilty of Medical Negligence after Patient Dies of Septicemia Due to Sponge Left In Abdomen

The deceased was a 32-year-old woman from Mishrain Gautia village in Gajraula. According to the reports following her surgery, the woman developed excessive swelling and pus formation in her internal organs, which was later identified through a CT scan. Despite her worsening condition, it appears that proper follow-up care was not provided, and the internal injury went unnoticed, leading to septicemia, a severe and often fatal infection. 

The woman succumbed to her injuries on December 5, 2004. In the wake of her death, Pilibhit District Magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Singh took prompt action by constituting a two-member inquiry committee to investigate the matter. The committee, led by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Alok Kumar and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Judicial) Ashutosh Gupta, found the doctors involved in the procedure guilty of several serious lapses.

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Frustrated by the lack of action, the woman’s husband filed an FIR against the doctors. He alleged that the doctors not only failed to provide proper medical care but also resorted to intimidation tactics. According to her husband, the doctors threatened to harm his children if he did not agree to "settle the matter" and keep quiet about the medical negligence.  

According to TOI, Gajraula SHO Jagdeep Malik said, "We have charged four doctors, including associate professor Dr Saif Ali, senior gynecologist Dr Asha Gangwar, both of ASMC, Dr Himank Maheshwari, Dr Ram Beti, as well as Anchal Gupta, managing director of a private hospital, and five others under BNS sections 105 (culpable homicide), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) and 127 (2) (wrongful confinement)."

The SHO also mentioned that a copy of the inquiry panel's report would be requested from the CMO to include it in the investigation. Further action would be taken based on the panel's conclusions.