BHU Hospital's Patient Mix-Up: Wrong Surgery Leads to Woman's Death in Varanasi
In a shocking case of gross medical negligence at Banaras Hindu University's trauma centre in Varanasi, a 71-year-old woman died after being subjected to the wrong surgical procedure due to a catastrophic patient identification error. The incident has exposed serious lapses in hospital protocols and raised urgent questions about patient safety standards at the prestigious medical institution.
The Tragic Case of Mistaken Identity
Radhika Devi, a 71-year-old woman from Ballia who required surgery for a spinal tumour, was instead wheeled into the operation theatre on March 7 in place of 82-year-old Radhika Singh, who had been admitted for hip replacement surgery. The orthopaedic department doctors proceeded with partial hip surgery on Radhika Devi before realizing their grave mistake.
Once the surgical team discovered the patient mix-up, they simply packed Radhika Devi's incisions and sent her back to the ward without informing her family about the catastrophic error. This initial cover-up attempt compounded the tragedy that was unfolding.
Delayed Correct Surgery and Fatal Complications
The elderly woman finally received her correct spinal tumour surgery on March 18, eleven days after the initial wrong procedure. However, the combination of multiple surgeries and the severe mental trauma she endured proved too much for her system. Radhika Devi developed numerous post-operative complications and tragically passed away on March 28.
Medical records reveal the disturbing details of how this preventable tragedy occurred. Radhika Singh, the 82-year-old intended for hip surgery, was on bed number 17 in the orthopaedic department, while Radhika Devi, the 71-year-old needing spinal surgery, occupied bed number 29 in the neuro department. Despite this clear separation, hospital staff failed to follow basic patient identification protocols.
Investigation and Committee Controversy
The negligence came to light when the deceased woman's grandson, Mrityunjay Pal, filed a formal complaint with Professor SN Sankhwar, director of BHU's Institute of Medical Sciences. In response, authorities sought a report from trauma centre in-charge Professor Saurabh Singh and formed a four-member investigation committee.
Controversy erupted when the committee was initially placed under the supervision of the same orthopaedic department doctor whose team had performed the wrong surgery on March 7. Only after Pal raised strong objections was the committee chairman replaced to ensure a fair investigation.
Professor Sankhwar confirmed to media outlets that the committee leadership had been changed to maintain investigation integrity. However, trauma centre authorities have been tight-lipped about further details, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry.
Systemic Failures Exposed
Hospital sources indicate that the investigation has revealed how surgical teams across multiple departments routinely overlook basic patient identification protocols. The anaesthesia team administered drugs without proper verification, and nursing staff failed to cross-check patient identities before wheeling Radhika Devi into the wrong operating theatre.
Even more alarming, the surgical team only realized their mistake when the senior resident failed to detect the specific complications associated with Radhika Singh's condition at the operative site. It was at this point that nursing staff belatedly informed doctors they had the wrong patient on the operating table.
This tragic case highlights systemic failures in hospital safety protocols and raises serious concerns about accountability mechanisms within medical institutions. The family's quest for justice continues as authorities promise a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this preventable death.
