Govt doctor booked after guidewire found in woman's body post surgery in TVM

Thiruvananthapuram: The Cantonment police on Friday registered a case against Dr Rajeev Kumar, Surgery Department of Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital, on charges of medical negligence after a guidewire was found inside a patient’s body following a surgery performed in 2023.

The police slapped him with IPC sections 336 and 338, dealing with negligence leading to endangering human life. He is the sole accused in the case. 

The 26-year-old patient, Sumayya, had undergone thyroid surgery at the Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital in 2023. She had developed breathing problems and panting right after she was discharged from the General Hospital on March 30; her surgery was done on March 20.

She said her condition worsened to the point where she could no longer manage her household chores. By March this year, her cough had become severe. It was only then, two years after the surgery that an X-ray was taken. The presence of the guidewire was later confirmed during an X-ray examination at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), following which General Hospital Superintendent Dr V Krishnaveni sought a medical opinion from Sree Chitra Medical Centre.

Director of Health Services Dr K J Reena said that a committee, chaired by the Additional Director of Health Services and comprising experts in cardiovascular thoracic surgery, diagnostics, anaesthesiology, and general surgery from the Directorates of Medical Education and Health, has been tasked with an inquiry. However, the identities of the committee members have not been disclosed.

The committee held its first meeting on August 14. The director also noted that a decision has been taken to examine Sumayya’s treatment records from RCC and other hospitals as part of the inquiry.