3 doctors booked for negligence in 2020 patient death case

Chandigarh: In a case of alleged medical negligence, Chandigarh Police have registered an FIR against the owner of Santokh Hospital and two other doctors, nearly five years after a 51-year-old patient passed away following complications from a gallbladder surgery.

The incident dates back to November 25, 2020, when the woman, a homemaker from Sector 47-D, was admitted to Santokh Hospital, Sector 38-A, after complaining of abdominal pain. Based on diagnostic tests, the doctor who is the owner of the hospital diagnosed her with gallstones and advised immediate surgery.

Following the surgery, the patient reportedly suffered from severe abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, swelling, and discharge near the surgical drain site. On November 30, doctors informed the family that a blockage had developed near the bile duct, requiring an additional procedure known as ERCP with stenting. This was performed at Shalby Hospital in Mohali, after which the patient was returned to the original hospital.

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Speaking to the Hindustan Times, the husband stated, “As my wife was continuously complaining of pain and discomfort, I kept requesting the doctors to take proper care of her. During this time, I got to know that during the surgical process, on account of negligence, another nerve was cut, causing the outflow of discharge. But the doctors kept saying that the surgery was performed well. They did not bother to take remedial steps to save the precious life of my wife and finally advised me to take her to PGIMER”.

On December 6, she was shifted in critical condition to PGIMER, Chandigarh, where she died the following day. Her death certificate cited “septic shock with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome” as the cause.

In 2022, the UT administration constituted a medical board to investigate the incident. After reviewing records from the hospital and statements from the involved parties, the board noted that following the laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed on November 27, 2020, the patient continued to experience pain and swelling.

According to the news reports, the report confirmed that a common bile duct (CBD) injury was initially suspected by the doctors and later formally documented at Shalby Hospital, Mohali. A stenting procedure was performed, following which the patient showed transient improvement. She was discharged on December 5, 2020; however, her condition deteriorated, and she was readmitted to the hospital later the same day.

The patient was examined by a medical officer, who has done her MBBS from Ukraine and has not cleared her MCI examination for foreign medical graduates. Hence, she was not qualified/registered to take care of any patient.

A central line was inserted by a trained anaesthetist. However, medical records indicate that no clinical examination was conducted by the operating surgeon, the gastroenterologist, or the treating physician during the patient’s worsening condition. Despite being in a critical state, the patient was discharged from the hospital.

The medical board concluded that there was “clear negligence” on the part of the treating physician, the operating surgeon, and the unqualified medical officer, who failed to provide appropriate care during the critical period.

Three years after the medical board’s opinion, police have now lodged an FIR under Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against three doctors at the Sector 39 police station, reports the Hindustan Times.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, on behalf of the hospital, Dr Gurnaj said, “I am not aware of the case registered by the police and cannot comment on the matter immediately.”