NIMS: Medical negligence costs Rs 5.63 lakhs to the doctors.

Hyderabad: 2 years after A. Mallikamba under went a surgery for a cystic lesion of the pancreas, she had to be operated on a second time. Only this time, the surgery was conducted to remove the  gauze swab which the team of surgeons forgot in her abdomen during the initial operation. The gauze swab led to the formation of pus and the development of tumor in her abdomen. This the Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-3  amounted to what is termed as medical negligence, costing the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences director and Dr R.A. Sastry, a sum of Rs 5.63 lakhs to be paid as compensation and litigation costs to the patient. Dr R.A. Sastry is the head of the department of surgical gastrology, NIMS.

Ms Mallikamba, a resident of Mogilicherla in Geesukonda mandal of Warangal district had filed a complaint in the consumer forum after suffering from  severe abdominal pain and discomfort for which she had sought consultation from Sakhamuri Narayana Memorial Nursing Home in Warangal. Investigations had revealed a tumour-like object in her abdomen which needed surgical intervention. During the operation however, it was found that a gauze swab from her previous surgery was the culprit behind her symptoms, causing her a considerable amount of pain and hardship that she had to bear for a period of 2 years.