Alappuzha (Kerala), February 21 A case has been registered against a retired doctor after a surgical instrument was found inside the abdomen of a woman who underwent surgery at Alappuzha Medical College in 2021, police said on Saturday.
Dr. Lalithambika, who was the former head of the gynaecology department at the medical college, was involved in the case when Usha Joseph (51) of Punnapra underwent surgery to remove a uterine fibroid in May 2021.
The Ambalapuzha police registered the case against the doctor on Friday night, who has since retired, following a complaint lodged by Joseph's relative.
The case has been registered under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (an act endangering life or personal safety of others) and Section 125(a) (causing hurt by a negligent act).
Although the Department of Health Education had earlier suspended Dr. Shahida, who performed the surgery on Joseph, police said that the case against Dr. Lalithambika was registered based on the complaint received, and that more accused may be added following further investigation.
Joseph is currently admitted to a private hospital in Kochi, where she is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the surgical instrument.
Meanwhile, the incident has triggered widespread protests across the state, with Youth Congress activists storming the official residence of Health Minister Veena George in Thiruvananthapuram in the morning.
However, George was not present at her residence when the protesters reached the doorstep and placed a wreath there, police said.
According to police officials, only three police guards were present at the residence when the protesters arrived, and they were unable to stop them.
The protesters later staged a dharna in front of the minister’s residence, holding black flags and chanting slogans against George, calling for her resignation.
