Forceps in abdomen controversy: woman discharged from private hospital in Kochi

Usha Joseph, fifty-one-year-old native of Punnapra in Alappuzha district who had undergone a surgery to remove an artery forceps left in her abdomen following a surgery in 2021, was discharged from a private hospital here on Tuesday.

The operation to remove the artery forceps was successfully performed at the Amrita Hospital here on February 21. Her treatment was offered free of cost by the Amritanandamayi Math, said a release issued here. Her condition after surgery remains satisfactory, according to the doctors. The surgery was led by O.V. Sudheer, Head of the Gastrosurgery department; K.V. Sanjeevan, Head of the Urology department; and Radhamani K., Head of the Gynaecology department, it said.

The Health department had ordered an inquiry after the issue snowballed into a controversy. She had undergone surgery for uterine fibroid removal at the Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha in 2021. Shibin, her son, had stated earlier that she developed discomfort and experienced bouts of abdominal pain. She approached the hospital several times, but the doctors were allegedly dismissive and failed to identify the source of her discomfort.

After her discharge, Ms. Joseph thanked everyone who helped her. She said that she was feeling better after suffering the pain for the last five years. Her son thanked Congress leader K.C Venugopal, MP and the hospital management for the help extended to them. He alleged that there was no follow-up on the part of the Health Department after his mother was admitted here for the surgery to remove the artery forceps.