Rajkot: A vascular surgeon at Unicare Hospital in Rajkot has been booked for performing surgery on the wrong leg of a 20-year-old patient without her consent, causing her severe pain for the past six months. The complaint alleges that the procedure was unexpectedly performed on her right leg instead of her left, for which she sought treatment.
The patient, Sapna Patodiya, claimed that she had suffered minor injuries to her left leg and sought surgical treatment. However, during the surgery, the doctors informed her father of a lump discovered in her right leg and proceeded to operate on it without obtaining prior consent. An MRI later revealed nerve damage near her right knee, raising concerns of medical negligence.
The hospital denied the allegations, asserting that they had fully informed the patient and her family about the surgery. However, after the complaint was filed, a medical committee from Rajkot Civil Hospital reviewed the case and found the surgery on the right leg questionable, suggesting possible medical negligence.
Based on the committee’s findings, police have registered a case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for causing grievous hurt by rash or negligent actions that endanger human life and have booked the surgeon involved.
Patodiya had been consulting her local doctor for a decade-old injury sustained during Ganpati Visarjan. After her pain worsened despite medication, she sought advice from Unicare Hospital, which is known for accepting Ayushman Bharat cardholders. Initially, the surgeon prescribed a five-day medication course, which failed to alleviate the pain. Subsequently, surgery was recommended and performed under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) on April 25.
Post-surgery, Patodiya was discharged on April 26, but she began experiencing intense pain in her right leg. A subsequent MRI revealed nerve damage, prompting her to file a complaint. While the hospital maintained that all procedures were properly explained and consented to, the panel’s report raised doubts about the justification for the surgery on the right leg, pointing to possible medical negligence.
