CPM Leader Addresses Surgical Instrument Incident in Kerala Hospital
CPM state secretary M V Govindan has commented on the controversial case from Alappuzha Government Medical College, where a pair of artery forceps was allegedly left inside a woman's abdomen during a surgical procedure. Speaking in Kozhikode, Govindan emphasized that this should be viewed as an isolated incident rather than indicative of systemic failure in Kerala's healthcare system.
Context of Surgical Volumes and Incident Frequency
Govindan provided statistical context, noting that in a state where lakhs of surgeries are performed annually, only one or two such incidents have been reported over recent years. "This is not a recurring phenomenon," he stated firmly. "There may be just one or two such cases. When lakhs of surgeries are conducted, how can anyone cite one or two incidents to claim that all surgeries are faulty?"
The political leader acknowledged that while such lapses should not occur, they are sometimes inevitable in complex medical environments. He confirmed that appropriate actions have been taken whenever such incidents come to light, including suspensions of responsible medical personnel.
Timeline and Government Response
Govindan provided important temporal context, revealing that the specific Alappuzha case occurred approximately five years ago, with another similar incident happening even earlier. "Such events should not have happened," he conceded, "and the government's stand is that even isolated incidents like these must not occur."
The CPM secretary outlined the government's approach:
- Treating each incident as a serious lapse requiring investigation
- Taking disciplinary action against responsible parties
- Maintaining that these are exceptional cases rather than patterns
- Committing to preventing even isolated incidents in the future
Govindan's comments come amid public concern about medical safety standards in government hospitals, particularly following reports of surgical instruments being left inside patients' bodies. His defense focuses on the statistical rarity of such events relative to the enormous volume of surgeries performed across Kerala's healthcare institutions.
