'Investigated without receiving complaint': Health Department with explanation for leaving guide wire lodged in Sumaiya's chest

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Health Department has issued an explanation for the incident where a tube was left lodged in a woman's chest after surgery. 'Although no complaint was received on the matter, an investigation was conducted in April itself. An expert committee was formed to investigate the incident. There will be no other health problems due to the guide wire getting stuck. The issue will be investigated if a complaint is received,' the Health Department clarified.

The tube was left lodged in the chest of the woman named Sumaiya during a thyroid gland removal surgery. An audio recording of Dr. Rajeev Kumar, a surgeon at the General Hospital, admitting medical negligence in the incident, has been released. What has emerged is an audio recording of a conversation with the patient's relative. Two months ago, the complainant Sumaiya's relative Sabir spoke to the doctor about the matter. The audio recording shows the doctor saying that a mistake had been made. The surgeon at the General Hospital, Dr. Rajeev Kumar, told the woman's relative that the people who inserted the tube were responsible.

The woman underwent surgery on March 22, 2023, on the advice of Dr. Rajeev Kumar to remove her thyroid gland. After a week in the hospital, Sumaiya returned home, but she continued to experience occasional shortness of breath. She then continued treatment with the same doctor for two years. However, when her phlegm and shortness of breath worsened, she sought treatment at a private hospital. When an X-ray was taken as per the doctor's instructions, a guide wire, which is part of the laparoscopic surgical equipment, was found inside her chest.

The woman then approached Dr. Rajeev Kumar with an X-ray. Later, on Rajeev Kumar's advice, she sought treatment at Sree Chitra Hospital. The CT scan revealed that the guide wire had become stuck to the blood vessel due to age and could not be removed. According to the woman's complaint to the DMO, when she informed Rajeev Kumar about this, he said that there was nothing he could do. The DMO informed that the complaint was being investigated. Sumaiya said there is no way for further treatment and that would file a complaint with the chief minister and the health minister.