Forceps left inside patient's abdomen at GMC Kozhikode in 2017: Medical Board to examine police report

Kozhikode: Following a complaint against the Government Medical College Hospital (GMC) Kozhikode in an alleged medical negligence case, an investigation by the Kerala police found that forceps were accidentally left inside a woman's abdomen after surgery in 2017. As a result, the report indicates two doctors and two nursing staff of the hospital responsible for this costly goof-up.

The police launched the investigation following a complaint by the woman alleging that she faced health complications after undergoing a caesarean at the Government Medical College hospital in 2017.

A senior police officer said on Monday that the investigation has confirmed that the forceps were accidentally left inside the woman’s body after the caesarean section, which was an alleged act of negligence by the doctors.

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“We have completed the investigation. We have reported to the DMO to constitute a medical board to conduct further investigation,” the police official told PTI.

An earlier probe by a team of medical experts had ruled out any goof-up on the doctors’ part. After her continued protest, a police probe was initiated. “I am happy that the truth has finally come out, as when I had pointed out the goof-up in Kozhikode Medical College hospital in 2017, it was denied. I will fight till I get full justice,” said Harshina this morning after the special police probe team submitted its report, IANS reports.

A full medical board has been constituted and will decide on the future course of action to be taken on this medical negligence. For the past several months, Harshina has been on a protest path and in March her protest was called off after she got assurance from Health Minister Veena George, who assured her of action. When nothing happened, she again began her protest.

“The Health Minister has assured me of action and now I will wait for it as the truth has emerged. I want justice,” added Harshina.

She has sought compensation for the alleged medical negligence threatening that her strike will continue until she gets justice.

The woman was “deeply upset” early this year when a report stated that there was no evidence which indicates that the scissors were left behind in her stomach by the Kozhikode Medical College hospital staff.

Harshinia, the 30-year-old woman from Kozhikode, had filed the complaint seeking a probe in October last year.

The woman had undergone her third caesarean at the Medical College in November 2017, with her earlier two C-sections performed in different private hospitals.

On September 17, 2022, the doctors of Kozhikode Medical College conducted a major surgery on Harshinia, who was suffering from severe pain, to remove a mosquito artery forceps that had been in her stomach for the past five years.

The mosquito artery forceps is a scissor-like piece of equipment used by surgeons to clamp bleeding vessels during surgeries.

The medical college officials had initially denied any negligence, citing her previous caesareans in private hospitals. However, the police’s findings have prompted the authorities to constitute a medical board for further investigation.

The woman has been protesting against the medical college officials for the past two months, seeking justice for the incident.

Today, she expressed her satisfaction with the police investigation, as it has validated her claims of negligence.

The government had earlier announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for her.

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