Surgical tool left inside abdomen; Police register case naming Dr Lalithambika as sole accused

ALAPPUZHA: The police have registered a case in the incident of finding an artery forceps in the abdomen of Usha Joseph subjected to a surgery at the Alappuzha Medical College in 2021. A case has been registered naming only Dr Lalithambika, the then head of the gynecology department, as the sole accused. The FIR says that the act was dangerous to human life and personal safety. The Ambalappuzha police have registered a case based on the complaint filed by Usha Joseph's relative.

The surgery was performed by Dr Shahida under Dr Lalithambika's unit. However, she has not been named as accused in the case. Dr Shahida and nursing officer P S Dhanya have been suspended. Dr Shahida is presently associate professor at SAT, Thiruvananthapuram. Usha's husband had filed a complaint with the Ambalappuzha circle inspector saying that Dr Lalithambika and the nurse performed the surgery. Based on this, only Dr Lalithambika was named as accused. The police have informed that more people will be arraigned in the case.

Dr Lalithambika told media that what was stuck in the patient's stomach is not forceps but a small device called mosquito. Nothing will happen even after 50 years if the device is in the body. Usha Joseph has undergone surgery before. The device may have gone inside then. She said that she did not perform the surgery. Lalithambika said they are mentioning her name because she was the head of the department then.