News Flash Daily
20 February 
Usha Joseph shifted to private hospital as inquiry and suspensions follow alleged surgical error at Alappuzha Medical College
Kochi: In a shocking medical oversight, a surgical instrument was discovered inside the abdomen of Usha Joseph, a 35-year-old woman from Punnapra, five years after she underwent uterine fibroid surgery at Alappuzha Medical College in May 2021.
Patient shifted to private hospital for corrective procedure
Joseph was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi on Friday for the removal of the artery forceps, which reportedly caused recurring abdominal pain since her initial surgery. Her son, Shibin Joseph, alleged that despite multiple visits to the medical college, the cause of her pain remained undiagnosed.
"It is a painful incident that should not have happened. A detailed inquiry is underway, and legal steps will be taken without leniency," said Kerala Health Minister Veena George.
Medical staff respond to allegations
Retired surgeon Dr Lalithambika, whose name was recorded as the unit chief during the surgery, denied performing the operation and rejected claims of taking money from patients. She clarified that the instrument visible in the X-ray was a small mosquito forceps, not an artery scissor, attributing the error to systemic failures, such as the absence of floor nurses, to account for surgical instruments.
Inquiry and suspension announced
Health Minister Veena George confirmed that officials involved in the surgery and still in government service will be suspended. An expert committee comprising senior doctors from Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram Medical Colleges has been deputed to conduct a thorough inquiry. The report will also be forwarded to the police for legal proceedings.
The minister rejected claims that system failure caused the error, stating, "Government hospitals are operating according to WHO guidelines. Surgery without a scrub nurse is a violation of norms and cannot be trivialised." She emphasised that medical boards and strict investigations will be constituted to ensure accountability.
