Woman dies during uterine tumour surgery; FIR against Howrah Hospital, gynaecologist

Howrah: A 50-year-old woman died during surgery to remove a uterine tumour at a private hospital in Makardah, Howrah, following which an FIR was registered against the hospital and the gynaecologist. 

The deceased, who worked at a panchayat office, had been admitted to the hospital for surgery to remove the tumour. However, she died during the procedure, following which her family questioned the circumstances surrounding the surgery and accused the doctor of abandoning the operation midway.

According to the family's complaint, the doctor allegedly stopped the procedure, stitched the woman's abdomen temporarily and left the operating theatre for lunch while she was still unconscious. They further alleged that a nurse later found her dead after she suffered heavy bleeding. 

The family has alleged that the doctor failed to ensure proper medical care during the procedure. An FIR has been registered against the hospital and the gynaecologist, and police have initiated an investigation into the allegations. 

The doctor, however, has denied any negligence and offered a different account of the events. He reportedly told police that the tumour was considerably larger than what the ultrasound examination had indicated. According to him, unexpected complications developed after the surgery began, making it difficult to proceed with the planned operation, TOI reported. 

He said he decided to close the abdomen and discontinue the procedure because he was uncertain about how to handle the complications. He also maintained that the patient was not left unattended, claiming that an anaesthetist, a junior doctor and two nurses remained present in the operating theatre.

Police are also examining allegations that the doctor stopped the operation shortly after opening the patient's abdomen, stating that he could not manage the case and would seek advice from a senior gynaecologist after taking a break.

The conflicting accounts have raised questions about the sequence of events inside the operating theatre. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman's death and the allegations made by her family.