Patient Left Disabled, 3 doctors booked for negligence

Thane: In a shocking case of medical negligence, three doctors from a private multispecialty hospital in Bhiwandi are under scrutiny after a knee surgery on a 58-year-old woman led to severe postoperative complications. The complications included intense pain, swelling, and pus formation at the incision site, which ultimately resulted in her permanent disability.

HT reported that even though the patient's husband informed the doctors about his wife's post-surgery complications, they allegedly dismissed his concerns, merely prescribing painkillers and physiotherapy.

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Later, a second and third surgery were conducted to remove the infected tissues in the knee. However, the infection was so severe that it persisted, and even though other doctors intervened, her condition did not improve, and her knee became permanently damaged.

The doctors have been booked now after a case was registered following an inquiry by the Thane district surgeon, who confirmed lapses in the surgical procedure.

As per a latest media report by HT, the patient had undergone an ACL surgery on July 31, 2022, at the hospital after suffering an accident. The surgery was performed by a doctor who was called in from Nashik, along with two other doctors.

The inquiry report revealed that a malfunction of medical equipment during the procedure caused a delay, during which hospital staff did not maintain proper hygiene and infection control protocols. Due to this, the patient developed post-operation complications after the incision site became infected, causing severe pain, swelling and pus formation.

As her health worsened, the family sought help from a knee clinic in Mulund, where doctors identified a severe infection requiring urgent surgical intervention. Over the next few months, she underwent two more surgeries—on September 14 and November 18, 2022—but by then, her condition did not show signs of improvement.

The infection was so severe and dangerous that she was also placed under expensive antibiotic treatments, which cost nearly Rs 20,000 per day, but to no avail and her knee was permanently damaged. She was given a disability certificate by Thane Civil Hospital after it was confirmed that her permanent impairment was caused due to medical negligence.

An investigation into the case is underway, and appropriate action will be taken as per the law, said a senior police officer.

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