Forceps left in patient's abdomen at GMC Kozhikode: Panel to probe alleged medical negligence

The patient underwent Caesarean section surgery at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital five years ago. Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Asha Thomas has recommended names for the formation of a special committee to inquire into the complaint.

The inquiry committee will include Special Officer of the Directorate of Medical Education Abdul Rasheed as the coordinator, Joint Director of Nursing Education Saleena Shah, and Head of Forensic Medicine at Government Medical College, Kollam, Renju Raveendran as other members, reports The Hindu. The committee will complete the investigation and file its report at the earliest.

Medical dialogues team had earlier reported that a panel consisting of heads of the departments of Surgical Gastroenterology, Surgery, and Plastic Surgery of the medical college had been arranged to complete the internal investigation.

The woman had undergone her third caesarean at Kozhikode Medical College in November 2017, after which she began experiencing pain, which was also reported by the Medical Dialogues team earlier. Her first two deliveries took place in private hospitals. A CT scan revealed the presence of the instrument, which was stuck to the urinary bladder and was causing the swelling.

On September 17th, Kozhikode Government Medical College (GMC) doctors performed major surgery on the woman to remove the mosquito artery forceps in her stomach for the past 5 years. Initially, the hospital denied any lapses on its parts and stated that the instrument which was removed from her body was not used in the hospital.

However, the patient's family submitted s voice clip that reportedly had the doctors admitting to the negligence from their side after that the 30-year-old woman filed a complaint against the doctors associated with GMC Kozhikode. Acting on the complaint, Health Minister Veena George instructed Additional Chief Secretary Health and it is on the basis of her recommendation that a special committee was formed.