Jodhpur Govt hospital orthopaedician removed after alleged wrong leg surgery
Medical Negligence?
Jodhpur: Following allegations of medical negligence at a government hospital in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur, a senior orthopaedic doctor has been removed from duty after an elderly woman was reportedly operated on the wrong leg, prompting administrative action and a formal inquiry.
According to the news reports, the incident occurred at the state-run Mathura Das Mathur Hospital (MDM Hospital), where a 66-year-old was admitted after sustaining injuries in a physical altercation. Medical examinations showed fractures in both her legs, but doctors had reportedly decided that surgery was required only for one leg.
The surgery was carried out on April 27. However, concerns came to light when it was discovered that the operation had reportedly been performed on the wrong leg. The incident triggered an alarm within the hospital administration and led to the formation of an inquiry committee.
As per the inquiry committee’s report, the administration took action against the Associate Professor of Orthopaedics. He has now been relieved of his duties at MDM Hospital and transferred to the Medical Education Department in Jaipur, where he will await further posting orders.
The inquiry committee found, prima facie, supervisory negligence on his part. Initially, the doctor tried to assert that the woman needed an operation on both legs as both of them were fractured, and that the right leg would eventually be operated on, reports India Today.
The investigation concluded that the incident occurred due to a failure to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), leading to the wrong-site surgery.
The case has added to growing concerns over patient safety standards in government hospitals.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that in a shocking case of alleged medical negligence, doctors at the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) have been accused of operating on the right leg of a woman instead of her left leg, which had a steel rod inserted two years ago.
Also Read:Medical Negligence? HIMS doctors accused of operating on wrong leg
