A young woman from Thiruvananthapuram district has been forced to seek legal recourse against the state health department and the Kerala government after alleged medical negligence left a foreign object inside her body and authorities failed to deliver on promises of compensation and employment.
A Surgical Error With Lasting Consequences
S Sumayya, a 26-year-old resident of Kattakkada, underwent a procedure to remove her thyroid gland at the General Hospital on March 22, 2023. During the surgery, a crucial error occurred: a guide wire, which is a tube-like instrument used to establish a central line for administering medicine, was accidentally left inside her chest cavity. The mistake was not discovered immediately.
It was only months later, when Sumayya began suffering from severe breathing difficulties and other health complications, that the horrifying truth came to light. Advanced tests conducted at the prestigious Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology confirmed the presence of the metallic wire. The situation was particularly dangerous because the wire had become embedded in her chest and attached to critical blood vessels.
Broken Promises and a Family's Struggle
A medical board that reviewed her case delivered a devastating verdict. They concluded that surgically removing the wire now posed a significant risk of serious injury or harm. Their official advice was for Sumayya to leave the wire in place permanently, under lifelong medical supervision. Her family has further alleged that the surgeon involved initially attempted to conceal the entire incident.
The health ordeal forced Sumayya to quit her job, plunging her family into financial distress. Despite repeated complaints and what she calls "assurances" from the state government, neither the eligible compensation nor a promised government job materialized. Frustrated and left with no other option, she held a press conference on Monday to announce her decision to approach the court. In September 2025, the Cantonment police arrested the surgeon connected to the case, adding a legal dimension to the medical tragedy.
The Legal Battle for Justice
Sumayya's lawsuit highlights a critical failure in the system meant to protect victims of medical negligence. Her case is not just about a surgical error but about the subsequent institutional abandonment. She is now seeking legal redress to hold the health department and the state government accountable for their unfulfilled commitments and for the life-altering consequences of the negligence she endured.
This incident raises serious questions about patient safety protocols in government hospitals and the mechanisms for providing timely relief to victims of medical mishaps. Sumayya's fight in court will be closely watched as a test of accountability and patient rights in Kerala's healthcare system.
