​After 'celebrated surgery', cancer patient lies under tree in Bhopal hospital

BHOPAL: A 65-year-old stage-IV cancer patient, whose surgery was celebrated as a "first for any government medical college in

Madhya Pradesh

" has been lying on a stone bench under a tree at

Hamidia Hospital

for the last three days.


Grossly underweight, a bandage barely supporting a tube running into her nostrils, Chuniya Kushwa struggles to breathe. Her surgery was deemed a success by a

Gandhi Medical College

(GMC) dental surgeon - much before postoperative

histopathology

report.

"We were told to vacate the hospital on Sunday. Coming back from Panna (400km away) again with my grandmother would be difficult. We spent thousands of rupees for her operation. Her condition is getting more critical by the hour. We need the government to help her now," said the patient's grandson Kandhi. GMC senior resident and maxillofacial surgeon Dr Bhavuk Vanza had operated on the cancer patient in the second week of September. When TOI approached Dr Vanza, he acknowledged that he had "carried out the operation."

Law student moves HRC
He said that he “carried out the operation without expert radiologist and plastic surgeon and without permission from tumour board”. The surgery has sparked controversy over alleged breach of protocol.

Law student Shashank Jain has now moved MP Human Rights Commission, seeking action on what he sees as “human surgical trial”. He alleges the surgery breached norms of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, in terms of qualification, training and experience.

Dr Vanza had removed a 23cm tumour that was inside Kushwa’s jaw, encompassing the skin and face. “A radiologist is generally not in the team. As far as plastic surgeon was concerned, even they were not in the team and I was the only operating surgeon there,” Dr Vanza told TOI.

On his social media posts, Dr Vanza hailed the “intervention”, saying: “Hearty thanks and seeking blessing from GMC HoD surgery Dr Arvind Rai and GMC dean Dr MC Songra”. GMC head of surgery, Dr Arvind Rai, is said to have authorized the cancer patient’s operation. Dr Rai refused to comment on the allegation that the surgery could be deemed “human surgical trial”.

GMC dean Dr MC Songra told TOI, “I have been informed by Dr Arvind Rai that the operation was under his supervision.” After the surgery, Dr Vanza had claimed, “It is a completely curative surgery. There is no trace of cancer left inside.”

Kushwa’s family feels differently. “Going by condition of my grandmother, who is lying in the open, there is little hope for us,” said her grandson.