Kaushambi Hospital: Probe ordered after patient's surgery images circulated on WhatsApp
Kaushambi Hospital Under Scanner After Objectionable Surgery Images Go Viral
Kaushambi: A 22-year-old female patient has been at the centre of a serious privacy breach after objectionable photographs allegedly taken during her surgery at a government-run autonomous state medical college in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi were circulated on WhatsApp groups linked to officials and media personnel.
The incident came to light following intervention by a member of the State Women’s Commission, prompting swift police action and an internal probe.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Satyanarayan Prajapat, superintendent of police (SP), termed the matter serious and assigned the probe to Shivank Singh, deputy superintendent of police (DSP) (Manjhanpur). “Strict action will be taken against those found guilty. No one will be spared,” he said.
According to news reports, the woman was admitted to the gynaecology department on April 26 and underwent surgery for a Bartholin cyst. The procedure, which involved excision and marsupialisation, was conducted under the supervision of senior doctors.
The controversy erupted after photographs allegedly taken during the operation surfaced in WhatsApp groups. The images reportedly showed the patient’s face and private parts, sparking widespread concern over privacy violations and professional misconduct. Women’s groups and civil society members have strongly criticised the incident.
As per Hindustan Times reports, Pratibha Kushwaha, State Women’s Commission member, wrote to the SP seeking action. Police have since begun an inquiry to identify who captured the photographs, who was present in the operating theatre, and how the images were leaked. “A letter has been sent to the SP for a preliminary inquiry. Further communication will be made with higher authorities after the report,” said Pratibha Kushwaha.
Dr Hariom Kumar Singh, the principal of the medical college, acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, calling it a “major mistake.” He assured the public that disciplinary action would be taken against those found responsible for this breach of medical ethics and patient privacy, reports DNA India.
Officials said preliminary findings suggest that a responsible official may have shared the images in a WhatsApp group meant for institutional communication with the media. The photographs reportedly spread further after being forwarded to another official group linked to the state information department.
Members of these groups include the district information officer, the principal, doctors, and media personnel. The images were eventually deleted after the issue came to light.
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