Thiruvananthapuram: An alleged case of serious medical negligence has emerged at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital, where a young woman endured complications after a guide wire was accidentally left inside her chest following a surgical procedure.
The issue gained attention after an audio clip surfaced, in which the doctor reportedly admitted to the mistake.
In the conversation with the patient’s relative, the doctor is heard saying, “What happened was indeed a mistake.” He added that the issue was detected only through an X-ray and pointed out that those who inserted the tube for administering medicines were responsible.
Sumayya, a resident of Malayinkeezhu in Kattakkada, Kerala, underwent thyroid gland removal surgery at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital on March 22, 2023.
Following the operation, difficulties in accessing a vein led to the insertion of a central line for administering blood and medication. However, the guide wire used during the procedure was inadvertently left inside her chest.
Subsequent tests at Sree Chitra Institute confirmed the presence of the guide wire, which had by then become embedded in her blood vessels.
Medical experts have now deemed surgical removal too risky, meaning Sumayya will have to live with the long-term consequences of the oversight.
Sumayya’s family also alleges that the doctor concealed the fact that the wire had been left inside, despite knowing about it.
With her health continuing to deteriorate, she has submitted complaints to the Health Department and to the Leader of Opposition, demanding justice and proper medical support.
In response to mounting pressure, the District Medical Officer (DMO) has sought a detailed report from the hospital authorities.
A few years ago, a homemaker, Harshina, was in the news after she went to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital in 2017 for her third delivery.
She recalled experiencing recurring pain in her stomach, and despite numerous consultations and checkups, the pain did not subside.
Eventually, a full-fledged radiological examination revealed a foreign object, a pair of scissors, present in her stomach. The scissor was later removed following surgery at the Kozhikode Medical College hospital.
