After woman dies, husband accuses doctors of negligence
After woman dies, husband accuses doctors of negligence
A one-hour minor operation turned fatal for Sulochana Gawde (50). Gawde was admitted to Ankur Hospital, Kanjurmarg (E) on April 17, for surgery to treat a nagging sinus problem.
However, the operation went on for more than two hours, and by the end of it, Gawde was in a precarious condition. Panicky doctors asked her to be shifted to Godrej Hospital, Vikhroli immediately. However, the ambulance took her to the wrong hospital Wockhardt Hospital, Mulund, causing a further delay of one and a half hours. When she was finally brought to Godrej Hospital, she was declared dead.
Dr Sachin Elamkar, ENT specialist of Ankur Hospital, was treating Gawde and had advised the surgery. According to her husband, she was admitted to Ankur Hospital and all her were fine. "My wife's pre-operation reports were all normal. Dr Sarvesh Tiwari had administered the anaesthesia. I was told that it was a probable case of anaesthesia overdose. I hope we get justice in this case," said Gawde's husband Shivram, a chief development manager with PAN Card Ltd.
However, Dr Elamkar denied the allegations of negligence. He told MiD DAY, "The investigation in this case is still on, and I wouldn't like to comment. But it wouldn't be right for the family to claim medical negligence."
Sharad Gosavi, a relative of Gawde, said, "Even though it was a minor operation, it went on for over two and a half hours. Suddenly the doctor rushed out and said her heartbeat was abnormal and she was put on ventilator."
TIMELINE
9 am: Sulochana Gawde was admitted at Ankur Hospital
1 pm: The time when doctors decided to operate on her
2pm: The surgery commenced as last-minute medicine was to be brought form Ghatkopar causing a delay of one hour
4.30 pm: Surgeon rushed out stating complications in the operation and the need to shift the patient to Godrej Hospital immediately
6.45 pm: The ambulance reached Godrej Hospital with Gawde after she was taken to Wockhardt hospital first by mistake
'Less than 1% chances of death in sinus surgery'
Dr Makarand V Damle, who practices at Malad, told MiD DAY, "In sinus surgery, mortality due to surgical procedure is less than one per cent. In case of death in sinus surgery, anaesthesia could be one of the causes of death."
He added, "Modern techniques of anaesthesia are extremely safe provided all the pre-operative tests are carried out carefully."
A police official from Kanjurmarg police station said, "An accidental death report has been filed. The first post-mortem report is out, but we have sent the body for further investigation. Till then we cannot charge the hospital with negligence. If found guilty the doctors will be charged under Sec 304 A of IPC (causing death by negligence)."
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