Mumbai: 2 gynecologists booked for leaving surgical mop inside woman's body

Photo for representational purpose

Two city-based gynecologists have been booked for negligently leaving behind a surgical mop inside the body of a Malad homemaker while performing hysterectomy, two years after her death.

The FIR registered by Dindoshi police is based on a report by an experts' panel from Grant Government Medical College.

The victim, Ganga Sen (45), lived in Malad with her husband and children. In January 2019, she suffered severe menstrual bleeding and her physician referred her to Jeevan Maternity Hospital, Malad, stated a report in The Times of India.

Dr Sarina Relan and Dr Ramesh Relan performed the hysterectomy on January 13. Even after being discharged, Ganga complained of abdominal pain and her son, Rahul, took her back to see Dr Sarina. According to the FIR, Ganga was told that pain was experienced sometimes and she would get better. She was given antibiotics.

The pain continued. Meanwhile, Rahul's wedding was planned at their hometown in Rajasthan. The family travelled to Udaipur but Ganga's condition was no better. Another visit to a physician and more antibiotics did not help.

On May 6, Ganga was wheeled into J K Hospital at Udaipur after she developed a fever and started vomitin. A CT scan revealed a surgical mop in her body.

"She underwent a surgery which was videographed. Doctors took out the surgical mop and told us about the extent of the infection," said Rahul. The victim spent another over two months in various hospitals even as the family struggled to pay bills. On July 26, Ganga died at home. Rahul had given a complaint letter to the police before her death.

"The protocol in cases of this nature is to send all documents to an experts' panel at Grant Medical College. If the panel finds a doctor negligent, only then an FIR is registered," said investigating officer Amol Shinde.

Rahul made close to 50 trips in the past two years to the police station, the court and to Grant Medical College for redressal. He was told at the medical college that there was a high pendency of cases. Out of funds, Rahul, who works as a bank peon, moved to Virar with his wife. His father and sisters stayed back in Rajasthan. After the experts gave a report earlier this year, stating the gynecologists had been negligent, the police registered an FIR on March 1.

"There is a need for courts to direct the administration to formulate appropriate guidelines pertaining to medical negligence cases. The experts' panel could add a judicial member in addition to doctors, which would bring transparency to the process. As the police are yet to make any arrest, we may approach Bombay high court with a PIL (public interest litigation) for speedy disposal of such cases," said advocate Tanya Jha, representing the Sens.