Mangalore: Scissors inside woman's body - U T Khadar expresses shock
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Updated
Mangalore, Jun 29: A day after the shocking incident of a woman finding a pair of scissors inside her four years after her surgery, came to light, minister of health and family welfare U T Khadar said that the district health officer has been asked to submit a report on the incident and that appropriate legal action would be taken by the authorities concerned.
Ayesha (name changed), a resident of Madoor on Saturday June 28 had alleged doctors of Mangalore Nursing Home in the city of negligence, after X-rays had revealed that a pair of scissors had been left behind by the doctors who operated upon her.
The surgery for hysterectomy (surgical removal of uterus) had taken place in February 2010, and ever since, Ayesha had been suffering from joint pains and other ailments which had rendered her unable to work. Dr Poornima, one of the doctors who had performed the surgery, in her defence had said that it might have been done by some doctor too, and that the location of the instrument (in pelvic area) was not exactly where the surgery was performed.
Speaking to daijiworld over the phone, U T Khadar expressed shock at the incident and said,"If such negligence could occur in a well-known hospital such as Mangalore Nursing Home, what about hospitals in rural areas?"
"I have asked the DHO to submit a report. We can take suitable action against the guilty under Karnataka Private Medical Practitioners Act," he said, adding that the doctors at Mangalore Nursing Home are usually good, but this was shocking.
He also said that after the incident came to light, Ayesha's family had contacted him. It is learnt that on Sunday June 29, Ayesha got admitted to Unity Hospital to get the pair of scissors removed through operation.
Earlier Report: June 28
Mangalore: Woman discovers scissors in her body four years after surgery!
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)
Mangalore, Jun 29: There have been numerous cases around the world of doctors leaving behind a surgical instrument inside the patient's body during operation. In a similar incident reported on Saturday June 28, a lady in Mangalore found out that her doctors too had done the same to her, only, she learnt of it over four years after the surgery took place!
The patient, Ayesha (name changed) from Madoor here, on Saturday appeared before the media at Mangalore Nursing Home and alleged that the doctors who had operated upon her four years ago had left behind a pair of scissors inside her.
Speaking to media persons, Ayesha said that more than four years ago, on February 22, 2010, she was admitted to Mangalore Nursing Home for hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus). After the surgery, she developed swelling in the joints and especially in her knees, and consulted some doctors who told her that such swelling was common in patients who undergo hysterectomy.
Nevertheless, she continued to take treatment, but to no avail. She was not able to do any work, which sent her into depression and her health further deteriorated. For four years she took various treatments for her pain.
A few days ago, she consulted another doctor who referred her to a skin specialist, who in turn asked her to take X-rays and undergo other tests. She did so accordingly, and to her utter shock, the X-ray revealed a pair of scissors resting in her pelvic area!
She then came to the hospital to demand an explanation from Dr Poornima Nair and Dr Rohit Gatti who had operated upon her.
Accusing the doctors of negligence, she said, "When I came to the hospital today, I was told to negotiate and hush up the matter without letting anyone else know. However, I decided to bring the matter before the media so that it does not happen to other patients. I will not compromise on this."
She further said that though she had not decided on her future course of action, she said she was determined not to seek any further treatment in the same hospital.
Dr Poornima Nair, in her defence, said that a surgery is a team work and if any such incident occurs, it is the responsibility of the entire team and not of any single person. She moreover pointed out that the surgery was done on the central portion of the pelvis where the uterus was located, whereas the pair of scissors was found towards the side.
"We cannot say for sure that it was our mistake. It may have been done by some other doctor. Unless we operate again we cannot know what exactly happened," she said.