Doctors at a Community Health Centre (CHC) allegedly cut the oesophagus instead of fallopian tube during a tubectomy operation which was said to be performed under torch lights a week ago.
Kabita Rout (30) from Charipokhariya village under Kandira panchayat in Rajnagar block had undergone sterilisation operation on July 11 last at Rajnagar CHC.
“The surgeon cut the oesophagus instead of the fallopian tube. She is undergoing treatment at the Kendrapada district headquarters hospital since past one week and is on drips since then,” Kabita’s brother-in-law Rabindra Kumar Rout alleged.
The patient is in such condition due to the negligence of the surgeons, he alleged. She was taken to the operation table at around 5.30 pm and there were frequent power cuts. The surgeons had performed the operation with the help of torch lights as a result of which the mishap occurred, the family members of Kabita alleged.
Meanwhile, the absence of power backup provision and the operation conducted under torch lights have evoked sharp reactions among the locals. On the other hand, the hospital authorities allegedly tried sweep the issue under carpet.
The Extension Officer of the CHC on Friday held a discussion with the brother-in-law of the woman, a doctor and two others on the matter. “The patient is alright, nothing has happened. She will be discharged after she is able to take food orally,” the relatives of the patient were told by the doctor.
It may be mentioned that as many as 25 women had undergone sterilisation operation at the CHC on July 11. It was alleged that the oesophagus of Kabita was erroneously cut and some patients complained that the sutures broke a day after the operation.
Another woman of Charipokhariya village, Malati Barik, wife of Buddhadev Barik, had also undergone family planning operation on that day. A day after, she complained that the ligatures had broken that led to profuse bleeding. Following this, she was rushed to the Rajnagar CHC where the wounds were stitched again.
Even after seven days of operation, the wounds are not healing. Some women had come to the CHC for follow-up on Friday, sources said. “There were frequent power cuts at the time of operation. We do have power genset for power back up. We use focus light as well as torch lights during operations,” Dr Pranab Kumar Shukla of the Rajnagar CHC said.