lappuzha: A case has been filed against a doctor following a surgical incident at Alappuzha Medical College Hospital, in which a surgical instrument became lodged in the abdomen of 51-year-old Usha Joseph from Punnapra South.
The case has been registered against Dr Lalithambica, former head of the gynaecology department at the medical college, for allegedly acting negligently in a manner that endangered the patient's life. Sections 125 and 125A of the BNS, which allow for bail, have been invoked.
Following the incident, the medical education director suspended Dr J. Shahida, associate professor of gynaecology who led the surgery, and nurse P.S. Dhanya. Health Minister Veena George had previously indicated that a case would be filed against Dr Shahida.
The surgery, conducted on May 12, 2021, was performed by a nine-member team under Dr Shahida's leadership. Senior residents, postgraduate doctors, three anaesthesiologists, and three nurses were also present. Hospital records indicate that all surgical instruments were checked before and after the operation, though there is now suspicion that a lapse occurred.
