Serious allegations of medical negligence have emerged against the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Thiruvananthapuram after wooden fragments were reportedly discovered inside a patient's stitched leg wound nearly two months after surgery. The incident came to light on Monday when doctors at a district hospital removed the foreign objects during a second procedure.
Patient's Ordeal
The affected individual, V Madhu (57), a tree-cutting labourer from Bharathannoor, sustained severe injuries on March 21 after falling from a tree while working. During the fall, a machete kept behind him reportedly cut his leg, causing heavy bleeding. He was initially taken to a nearby hospital and later shifted to MCH, where doctors conducted an X-ray examination and performed surgery on the same day. The wound was stitched and dressed before he was discharged.
However, Madhu allegedly continued to suffer intense pain and swelling in the leg even after returning home. The wound later became infected, forcing the family to seek further treatment at the district hospital in Nedumangad.
Discovery of Wooden Fragments
Doctors at the district hospital decided to conduct another surgery on Monday after examining the infected wound. During the procedure, surgeons allegedly removed two to three wooden fragments from inside the wound. According to hospital sources and family members, the pieces measured nearly 5 centimetres in length and 3 centimetres in width.
Mahesh M, Madhu's son, alleged that the wooden pieces had remained inside the wound since the initial surgery at MCH. He termed it a serious lapse and medical negligence on the part of the hospital authorities. Though the family has not decided to file an official complaint, Mahesh said they wanted to bring the issue before the public to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Inquiry Ordered
The health department has initiated action following the allegations. The intervention came after Health Minister K Muraleedharan directed officials to conduct an inquiry. A four-member panel headed by the principal of the medical college has been constituted to probe the matter and submit a detailed report within one week.
