A committee, led by Joint Collector A. Md. Intiyaz, began its inquiry into the ‘scissors in stomach’ case at the Government General Hospital here on Thursday.
Six doctors and two staff nurses gave oral explanation on their respective roles in the case.
The committee members checked the case sheet, X-ray reports, and the patient’s details, based on which they concluded that there was prima facie evidence of medical negligence in the surgery performed on S. Chalapati, a rice mill worker, on October 3.
Mr. Intiyaz said the radiologist had given a report based on the X-ray, which showed the presence of the scissors in the abdomen of the patient. Following this, the doctors carried out surgery for the second time in the last week of October.
Statements in writing
As the inquiry was conducted following an order from the A.P. Human Rights Commission (APHRC), the officials asked the doctors to submit their statements in writing to the committee by Friday. DMHO Ramadevi, hospital superintendent Radhakrishnam Raju, and DCHS Subba Rao were members on the committee.
The Joint Collector, the DMHO, and the superintendent were giving separate reports on their findings, and the same would be sent to the HRC in two or three days.
Meanwhile, the ‘scissors’ left in the patient’s stomach was stated to be a curved forceps, and this surgical tool was used along with absorbent gauze and cotton to clean blood inside the body at the time of the surgery.
District Collector R. Mutyala Raju personally conducted surprise checks, which led to the suspension of the doctors. But after a few weeks, the doctors managed to get appointed in the same positions.
