Medical Negligence Case Against Doctors in Lucknow
Allegations of Surgical Error
A team of 15 medical professionals, including senior officials at Eras Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, has been implicated in a case of medical negligence. A 57-year-old woman has claimed that a surgical instrument was left inside her abdomen following a procedure performed approximately two and a half years ago. Since early 2023, she has reported experiencing severe abdominal pain, which she attributes to this oversight.
Misdiagnosis Claims
In her allegations, the complainant asserts that when the issue was identified, the doctors attempted to mislead her by incorrectly diagnosing her with appendicitis. She alleges that this was done to obscure their previous negligence. Throughout her ordeal, she claims to have incurred treatment costs of around Rs 5 lakh from 2023 to 2025, yet her condition failed to improve.
Legal Action Initiated
After experiencing delays, and what she describes as refusals from the police to file a First Information Report (FIR), the woman sought recourse through a magistrate’s court in Lucknow. Following the court’s directive, the police registered a case against the 15 doctors, including surgeons, radiologists, and other health officials, under sections 125(A) (acts endangering human life) and 125B (grievous hurt caused) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Timeline of Medical Issues
The complainant began experiencing health issues in January 2023, particularly acute abdominal pain. After consulting the private hospital, she underwent MRI and X-ray scans on January 5, which led to surgery being recommended. She was admitted on February 15 and underwent surgery on February 27, 2023. However, complications arose due to improper stitching, necessitating a second surgery on March 17. Although she was discharged on March 23, her pain persisted.
Continued Suffering and Mismanagement
Between March and May 2023, the woman made several visits to the hospital where she claims doctors merely prescribed painkillers and charged consultation fees without diagnosing the root cause of her pain, ultimately racking up costs totaling Rs 5 lakh. By August 2025, her condition deteriorated significantly, prompting an ultrasound which allegedly revealed abnormalities. However, she accused the doctors of generating false reports to conceal the surgical instrument left inside her.
Seeking Alternative Medical Opinion
When the doctors suggested a further surgery for appendicitis and demanded immediate payment, she became suspicious and sought a second opinion. At a different private hospital, a CT scan performed on August 9 confirmed the presence of a foreign surgical object in her abdomen. She underwent surgery on August 20, during which the surgical tool was successfully removed and shown to her family. The hospital’s discharge summary indicated the procedure was for “foreign body removal.”
Post-operative Complications
Following her surgery, the woman encountered serious post-operative complications and required admission to the ICU, which exacerbated her physical and emotional trauma.
Failure to Act on Complaints
Despite having informed authorities about the foreign object in her body, the initial hospital continued to treat her and collected nearly Rs 5 lakh for services rendered between February 2023 and August 2025. She filed complaints with the police commissioner, local police station, chief medical officer, and district magistrate in August 2025, but no actions were taken until the Lucknow Judicial Magistrate (V) court mandated an investigation on October 4.
Current Status of the Case
An investigation is currently underway regarding the allegations of medical negligence.