GMC Kozhikode doctors under scanner after mosquito artery forceps removed from patient's abdomen, 5 years after original procedure

Kozhikode: 5 years after performing a c-section on a patient, doctors associated with the prestigious Government Medical College Kozhikode (GMC Kozhikode) have found themselves under the scanner, after a "mosquito artery forceps" was recently removed from the stomach of the patient. While the hospital doctors have denied any missing forceps after the surgery 5 years ago, drawing attention to the patient's earlier surgeries, the state Health Minister Veena George has now ordered an inquiry into the matter.

A 30-year-old patient has filed a complaint against Government Medical College doctors, here for leaving forceps inside her abdomen after a caesarean five years ago. Health Minister Veena George has ordered an inquiry and asked the Health Secretary to submit a report soon.

The doctors of Kozhikode Medical College had, on September 17, conducted a major surgery on a Kozhikode resident, to remove a 'mosquito artery forceps' which was in her stomach for the past five years.

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The doctors of Kozhikode Medical College had, on September 17, conducted a major surgery on Harshinia, a Kozhikode resident, to remove a 'mosquito artery forceps' which was in her stomach for the past five years.

Acting on her complaint, Kerala State Health Minister Veena George on Saturday ordered a probe into the incident and asked the Health Secretary to submit a report soon.

The forceps are scissor-like equipment used by surgeons to clamp bleeding vessels during surgeries.

"Stern action will be taken against those who are responsible," Minister said in a statement.

The woman had undergone her third caesarean at Kozhikode Medical College in November 2017. The earlier two were in private hospitals, she said.

"After the third surgery, I began feeling severe pain. I thought it was due to the caesarean surgery. I approached many doctors…I thought either I had kidney stones or some sort of cancer," she told reporters.

Harshina said the pain was subdued using strong antibiotics, but it became unbearable since the last six months as she was suffering from a urinary infection.

"Apparently, the metal object was poking my urinary bladder and was causing infection. The pain became unbearable," she said.

After scans, the doctors of a private hospital suspected that it was a kidney stone.

"But after the CT scan, they told me that there was a metal object in my stomach. They told me that it was poking my bladder and resulting in a urinary infection. Doctors used to give me heavy antibiotics to reduce the pain," she said.

Later, she approached the government medical college here itself, and the doctors there took the forceps after surgery.

Meanwhile, Kozhikode Medical College also ordered a probe.

"We have ordered a probe. After the preliminary inquiry, the medical college superintendent told me that none of their surgical equipment was missing.

The woman has had two surgeries in private hospitals before coming to medical college," Kozhikode Medical College principal Dr. E V Gopi, told PTI.

After her surgery, removing the surgical equipment that was in her stomach for the past five years, she was discharged in a few days.

Later, she approached the State Health Minister and Kozhikode Medical College and filed a complaint in this regard.

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