Alappuzha: A 58-year-old woman from Kuthiyathodu has accused doctors at the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital of amputating two toes from her right foot without her or her family’s consent — an allegation the hospital has firmly denied.
According to the woman and her relatives, they were not informed about the amputation during her treatment and only discovered it after the surgery was completed. However, hospital authorities claimed that the toes had fallen off naturally due to her severe diabetic condition and poor blood circulation.
The woman was admitted to the hospital’s surgical ward on September 27 after sustaining a nail injury to her foot. Two days later, on September 29, she underwent surgery. Her family alleged that the nature of the operation was never disclosed to them and that they learned of the missing toes only the next day, when senior doctors visited her for a follow-up, Mathrubhumi reported.
Following the discovery, her son filed a complaint with the hospital superintendent and the district medical officer. In response, the superintendent ordered an internal probe and set up a three-member expert committee to investigate the incident.
Superintendent Dr. A. Harikumar denied the charges of negligence, explaining that the patient was suffering from a severe diabetic foot infection with extremely poor blood flow.
“Her feet were completely infected, with limited blood circulation. While removing the dressing to inspect the wound, her toes fell off. She complained that the matter wasn’t communicated properly. An emergency committee was formed, and its report has been submitted. Further action will follow based on its findings,” Dr. Harikumar told Onmanorama.
The hospital has maintained that all necessary procedures were followed, and the matter is now under official review.
