Mangaluru: A doctor at a private hospital in Puttur has been accused of medical negligence after a surgical mop was allegedly left in a woman’s stomach during a Caesarean-section conducted on her last Nov.
Only an emergency surgery helped remove the foreign object and save the woman from a potentially life-threatening condition.
DHO Dr Thimmaiah HR said a thorough investigation would be conducted into the complaint.
Recounting the couple’s ordeal, the woman’s husband posted on X, saying his wife underwent a C-section on Nov 27 and was discharged on Dec 2. However, a week later, she developed high fever and had to be readmitted to the hospital.
Concerned about an unusual sensation on one side of the woman’s stomach, the couple insisted on an ultrasound scan, which revealed a 10 cm mass, but the radiologist allegedly refused to disclose its details to the patient party or communicate with the treating doctor in their presence.
The doctor, in his turn, dismissed the concerns, saying it was a hematoma and not a foreign object.
As the discomfort persisted, the couple sought a CT scan for further clarity, but the doctor reportedly brushed the suggestion aside, saying the condition would resolve over time.
Thereafter, although the woman’s fever subsided, follow-up ultrasounds showed no reduction in the mass.
Meanwhile, the woman started experiencing severe joint, wrist, and leg pain, making it difficult for her to walk, stand, or even lift her baby to feed.
Her husband said a CT scan confirmed Gossypiboma and the presence of a surgical mop in the stomach. By then, the infection had spread to her lungs, blood, and other organs, putting her life at enormous risk.
When the couple approached the doctor who had performed the C-section, he allegedly refused to accept any responsibility.
Finally, an emergency surgery had to be conducted at another private hospital in Puttur on Jan 25 to remove the surgical mop and save the woman’s life. The patient was discharged on Feb 15, though
she is still under medication and has not been able to breastfeed her newborn.
“We have undergone tremendous stress. We have posted the issue on the National Consumer Grievance portal and Department of Consumer Affairs. We have spent lakhs on her treatment,” the husband said.