Alappuzha medical negligence: Panel gives clean chit to doctor who performed 2021 surgery

Kochi: A four-member committee, headed by the resident medical officer (RMO) at Alappuzha govt medical college, reportedly gave a clean chit to Dr Shahida, who faced allegations of medical negligence after a pair of artery forceps was found left inside a patient's abdomen after a surgery in 2021. The report said that the doctor followed all procedures required for the surgery. It reportedly said that the doctor stitched the abdominal wound after surgery, after confirming with the nurse that all the equipment used in the surgery was collected. Following the medical negligence allegations, the director of medical education had suspended Dr Shahida and a nurse, P S Dhanya. Usha Joseph (51) of Punnapra underwent surgery at the hospital after a large uterine tumour was diagnosed and was discharged later. The surgery was performed under the unit of Dr Lalithambika Karunakaran and led by then assistant professor Dr Shahida of the gynaecology department. As the forceps were left in the abdomen, Usha suffered severe pain for years and visited various hospitals to alleviate her pain. Later, an X-Ray conducted at a private hospital in Ernakulam found the forceps in her abdomen. It was retrieved in a surgery conducted on Saturday, and she is recovering. The forceps was handed over to the Ambalapuzha DSP as part of the ongoing investigation into the case.