Alappuzha, 20 Feb (H.S.):Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament K.C. Venugopal has expressed shock and outrage over the plight of a woman who allegedly lived for five years with a sharp surgical scissors left inside her abdomen following a surgery at a government medical college hospital in Kerala.
Venugopal termed the incident “deeply disturbing” and accused the State Health Department of criminal negligence. The victim, identified as Usha, a daily-wage worker under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), underwent surgery in 2021 at Government Medical College, Vandanam, for the removal of an abdominal mass. According to reports, a surgical instrument was inadvertently left inside her body during the procedure.
Since the surgery, Usha has reportedly endured persistent pain and severe health complications. She has been unable to resume work for the past five years, severely affecting her family’s livelihood. The alleged medical lapse came to light only after prolonged suffering and subsequent medical examinations revealed the presence of the scissors in her abdomen.
Reacting to the development, Venugopal said he was “numb with shock” after learning about Usha’s ordeal. “This is yet another victim of the criminal negligence that has gripped our healthcare system. The incident forces progressive Kerala to bow its head in shame,” he said. He added that the case once again exposes systemic failures and highlights the urgent need for accountability within the public health sector.
The Congress MP demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident and called for strict action against those responsible. “The system has completely failed. Those responsible must be identified and necessary legal and disciplinary measures must be taken without delay,” he said.
The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed concerns over patient safety standards in government hospitals. Health authorities are expected to initiate an inquiry into the matter, even as opposition leaders intensify pressure on the government for accountability.
The case has raised serious questions about surgical protocols, post-operative checks, and institutional oversight in state-run healthcare facilities, prompting calls for urgent reforms to prevent such grave lapses in the future.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
