Tubectomy camp controversy: Surgeon faces probe for leaving patients sedated in OT for 4 hours, says went for tea due to hypoglycemia
Nagpur: Brewing controversy, a surgeon in Maharashtra is under investigation for allegedly leaving his patients unattended in the operation theatre for four hours while he took a tea break. The doctor in question, was performing sterilization procedures at a government-run tubectomy camp in rural Nagpur when he claimed he had to step out due to a hypoglycemic attack.
The doctor was scheduled to conduct eight surgeries at a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Khat, a village situated 40 km from Nagpur. These surgeries included seven tubectomies and one vasectomy.
Feeling unwell after performing four operations, the doctor requested a tea break, which the PHC staff was unable to provide. Driven by his medical condition, the medical practitioner, who is said to have diabetes, experienced hypoglycemia, a condition in which the body's blood sugar level drops below the normal range, and left for Nagpur.
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Upon learning of the surgeon's absence, locals alerted health officials, and the doctor returned over four hours later that evening. Dr. Ajay Dawle, the district health officer, initiated an investigation into the incident, with a three-member committee tasked with probing the allegations at the facility.
Following the recording of statements from staff, patients, and other witnesses, an initial inquiry revealed that all eight scheduled operations for the day had been completed. However, it remains unclear whether the surgeon, the originally assigned doctor, performed these surgeries.
A permanent birth control procedure, often referred to as a family-planning operation, typically takes around 30 minutes, including the administration of anesthesia and the sterilization process.
TOI reports that four women were already under sedation, preparing for their scheduled surgeries, when the doctor left the operating theater for a tea break.
Saumya Sharma, the CEO of Nagpur Zilla Parishad, told Times Now that the case is still under investigation, and any disciplinary action against the involved doctor will be based on the final committee report.
