Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Feb 7: Botched up surgery at Hakeem Sonauallah Hospital in Sopore has led to the suspension of two doctors and a technician and further investigations are underway.
An official said that the 45 year old woman was admitted in the private hospital for an ear surgery. However, in the absence of the doctor treating her, the procedure was allegedly conducted by another doctor, who mistakenly performed a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus).
Following public outcry, authorities acted swiftly and sealed the hospital’s operation theatre, citing serious violations of medical protocols.
Soon after the sealing of the OT the Health and Medical Education Department suspended two doctors, Dr. Anjum Nazir, Consultant Gynaecologist, SDH Sopore, and Dr. Tariq Ahmad Dar, Medical Officer (Diploma in Anesthesia), DH Bandipora and barred them from carrying out private practice anywhere in the Union Territory.
On Friday Health and Medical Education Department suspended Ghulam Nabi, theatre technician at Sub District Hospital Sopore.”Pending enquiry into the incident that occurred on 03.02.2025 at Hakeem Sonaullah Hospital, Sopore and to ensure a fair and impartial investigation while maintaining the integrity of the healthcare system Mr. Ghulam Nabi, theatre technician, SDH Sopore is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect and shall remain attached with Directorate of Health Services, Jammu till further orders,” reads an order issued by Health and Medical Education Department.
A doctor wishing anonymity said, “Mistakenly removing the uterus of a patient who was supposed to undergo ENT procedure is a clear cut case of medical negligence.”
“It’s possible that they had to operate two ladies, one by ENT surgeon & other by obstetrician and they may have mixed the two cases,” he added.
“The attendants can file a case in the Consumer Court and demand compensation for the loss, ranging from millions to crores from the hospital and the doctor,” the medico added.
“Moreover, if there is any threat to the life of the patient, in such a case, said doctor may be jailed for sometime along with his/her licence being cancelled for sometime.”
Another doctor said that no one can defend such gross negligence. “This case is not worth defending,” he said, adding, “ We only defend the cases of alleged medical negligence which are expected complications of procedures/medicines and where due consent is taken before going for the procedure, for example, if this case was rightly operated for ENT procedure, and patient would have developed complications during the procedure/anaesthesia which are expected and documented in medical literature, we’d have defended it but in this case it is not possible,” he added.
Another doctor said that the patient whose uterus was removed is a 45 year old woman, who is already a mother of two. “Had she been young her entire life would have been ruined. How can a doctor be so negligent?” he said.
People even questioned how a gynaecologist was performing an ENT surgery.”How can a gynaecologist perform ENT surgery and what is the connection between the two,” Aabid Hussian a resident of Sopore said.
He, however, said that when your health is their business these things can happen. “When initially the news about the botched up surgery broke we thought it’s a prank. How can a doctor remove a uterus instead of performing ENT surgery? No one could believe it,” Hussain added.
Several people even questioned the silence of doctors associations who often come in support of medicos whenever there is any allegation of medical negligence. “Whenever there is clear cut negligence, doctors associations must speak. They should accept that their counterparts have committed a mistake,” said an observer.
A top official said that an investigation in this regard is going on and strict action will be taken against those found guilty. “We are expecting that probe will be completed by this week and culprits will face the music,” he added.
