Medical Negligence Case Filed Against Orthopaedic Surgeon
Incident Overview
Thiruvananthapuram: A case of alleged medical negligence has been filed against an orthopaedic surgeon at Jubilee Memorial Hospital, Palayam. A 24-year-old patient reported that a surgical procedure intended to enhance blood flow for persistent hip joint pain resulted in severe pain instead.
Patient’s Allegations
In his police complaint, the patient detailed his experience of intense pain in his hip and leg following the surgery. He claimed that a bone drill bit broke and became lodged in his left hip bone during the procedure.
Hospital’s Response
The hospital administration has refuted these allegations, asserting that no medical negligence occurred. They stated that the initial surgery was successful and that the patient was discharged afterward. Complications reportedly arose during a second surgery, performed one month later, when the metal tip of a guide wire detached. The doctor advised against removing it, noting that such action would necessitate another invasive procedure, which he deemed unnecessary as the metal fragment posed no health risks.
Details of the Surgical Procedures
The patient sought treatment in September 2025 after experiencing ongoing pain in both hip joints. Following a thorough examination, the orthopaedic surgeon recommended a surgical procedure to improve blood circulation to the affected area. The first surgery on the patient’s right hip occurred on October 3 and was deemed successful. However, issues reportedly developed during the second surgery on November 17, when the drill bit broke during the procedure, allegedly due to improper handling.
Legal Proceedings
In response to the complaint, police have officially registered a case against the surgeon, who is now charged under Sections 125 and 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), addressing acts that may jeopardize life or personal safety due to negligence.
Hospital’s Justification
The hospital maintains that the patient was diagnosed with avascular necrosis and opted for a core decompression procedure to restore blood flow to the affected bone. They reiterated that removing the metal fragment would have necessitated further invasive surgery, and emphasized that the sterilized metal piece did not pose any health risks.
Official Statement
Fr. Lenin Raj T, the managing director of the hospital, stated to TNIE, “The first procedure, performed on one leg in October, was successful and the patient was discharged. During the second procedure, a month later, the metal tip of the guide wire became detached. Removing it would have required invasive surgery. The attending doctor advised against such intervention, assuring both the patient and his attendant that the sterilized metal fragment would not pose any health risk. There was no negligence involved.”