Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George has ordered an inquiry into the startling discovery of an artery forceps in the abdomen of a woman who underwent surgery at the Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha, in 2021.
The patient, Usha Joseph, had undergone surgery for uterine fibroid removal at the hospital. Her son, Shibin, told reporters that she developed discomfort and experienced bouts of abdominal pain. She approached the hospital several times, but the doctors were allegedly dismissive and failed to identify the source of her discomfort.
Mr Shibin said his mother recently consulted another doctor for abdominal pain. He told her it could be a kidney stone and asked her to undergo an X-ray examination. The report revealed the surgical instrument.
When confronted, the MCH doctors agreed to remove the forceps. However, the family declined and shifted Ms Joseph to a private hospital in Ernakulam. Mr Shibin alleged that the MCH authorities dared him to file a medical negligence complaint and turned down his request for compensation.
The family also raised allegations against Dr. Lalithambika, a surgeon who retired recently from the hospital. Mr Shibin said he had visited the doctor privately several times but to no avail.
