Rajasthan hospital removes patient's healthy kidney in botched operation

JAIPUR: A private hospital in Jhunjhunu district removed the healthy right kidney of a 30-year-old woman admitted there for the treatment of her diseased left kidney on May 15, leaving her battling for life. The govt intervened after the botched surgery was reported Tuesday by a local language daily.
Eid Banu from Nua village was referred to Jaipur's govt-run SMS Hospital on May 18 when her condition deteriorated after the surgery at Dhankar Hospital in Jhunjhunu under the supervision of a specialist, identified as Dr Sanjay Dhankar.
"Eid Banu was admitted to the hospital to treat kidney stones. The doctors advised the removal of the diseased kidney. On May 15, Dr Dhankar and his team removed her right kidney instead of the infected left one. When her condition deteriorated, the hospital referred her to the govt-run SMS Hospital in Jaipur," Sajid Ali, the woman's cousin, told TOI.
"It was only at SMS Hospital that we learnt that the healthy kidney had been removed instead of the infected one," Ali, a construction worker, said.
Banu's health improved enough at SMS Hospital over the next week to be considered fit for discharge on May 25, but her body swelled on Tuesday, requiring emergency hospitalisation in a govt facility in Bikaner.
SMS Hospital allegedly didn't report Banu's plight to the authorities all along, delaying action against Dhankar Hospital until the newspaper report highlighted her plight.
SMS Medical College principal Dr Deepak Maheshwari said the local police station had been informed, but SHO Suresh Upadhyay said there was no such information.
Jhunjhunu collector Chinmayee Gopal said, "We have seized the patient's medical records and sealed the hospital." Additional chief secretary (health) Shubhra Singh said the department had revoked the private hospital's registration.

5-member team constituted to investigate the case
"The process to withdraw the hospital's empanellment in various govt health schemes, including the Rajasthan govt health scheme and Ayushman Arogya scheme, is underway." A five-member team has been constituted to probe the case.
With her condition deteriorating on Tuesday, Banu has now been admitted to the Bikaner govt hospital where she is likely to undergo dialysis.
The surgical removal of her infected kidney can be attempted only after her condition stabilises and improves.
As per the Supreme Court's guidelines, the state govt has constituted a five-member investigation team to probe the incident.
Based on its findings, the Jhunjhunu police will register an FIR for medical negligence.