A criminal case has been registered against three doctors in Greater Noida for alleged medical negligence after a piece of surgical cloth, nearly half a metre long, was discovered inside a woman's abdomen more than a year after she underwent a Caesarean delivery. The incident has sparked outrage and led to a police investigation under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
A Year-Long Ordeal of Pain and Misdiagnosis
The complainant, a resident of Delta-1 in Greater Noida, underwent a C-section procedure at a private hospital in the Knowledge Park area on November 14, 2023. She was discharged two days later. However, soon after returning home, she began experiencing severe and persistent abdominal pain.
Over the next 15 months, her health deteriorated significantly. She developed a noticeable lump near the surgical site. In search of a diagnosis and relief, she consulted multiple hospitals, including facilities in Muzaffarnagar, Sharda Hospital in Greater Noida, and several other private clinics. Despite numerous consultations and tests, the root cause of her agony remained undetected.
Her medical journey during this period included:
- Visits to multiple hospitals in Muzaffarnagar and Greater Noida.
- A consultation at Yatharth City Hospital on March 22, 2024, for high fever and intense pain.
- Tests at GIMS Hospital on April 7, 2024, which reportedly showed normal results.
- A recommendation for further imaging and cancer tests at Naveen Hospital on April 8, 2024.
The breakthrough finally came when, upon the advice of doctors at Kailash Hospital, she underwent a second surgery on April 22, 2024. During this procedure, surgeons discovered and extracted the foreign object—a surgical cloth—from her abdomen. The woman's husband has submitted photographs and video footage of the object's removal as crucial evidence.
FIR Filed and Allegations of a Cover-Up
Following the shocking discovery, the woman's husband filed a formal complaint with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) the very next day. The CMO assured an inquiry and appointed a two-member medical team. However, the complainant alleges that the investigation was deliberately delayed for nearly two months and that the recovered cloth was never sent for forensic examination, raising serious questions about the probe's integrity.
Frustrated by the alleged inaction, the husband filed a police complaint at the Knowledge Park police station on December 24, 2024. The police have registered an FIR against six accused, including the three doctors from the private hospital, the Chief Medical Officer, and two health department officials appointed to investigate the case.
The charges invoked under the BNS are serious and multifaceted:
- Section 125: Endangering life or personal safety due to rashness or negligence.
- Section 125B: A more severe clause for endangerment, with punishments escalating up to three years' imprisonment if grievous hurt occurs.
- Section 255: Penalising public servants who knowingly disobey the law to shield someone from punishment.
- Section 351(2): Criminal intimidation, as the couple alleges they were threatened to drop the case.
Severe Health Consequences and an Uncertain Future
The consequences of this medical error have been devastating for the woman, who works as a domestic helper and supplements her income through sewing. The prolonged presence of the foreign object led to two major surgeries. The second operation was particularly critical, requiring her to receive eight units of blood.
Most alarmingly, doctors have reportedly informed her that a third surgery may not be possible, casting a dark shadow over her ability to conceive again. This case highlights not just an instance of surgical error but a subsequent trail of alleged administrative failure and intimidation, compounding the victim's trauma.
The case is now under police investigation, serving as a stark reminder of the dire need for accountability and robust patient safety protocols within India's healthcare system.
