Rajkot: A 20-year-old woman from Junagadh has accused a doctor at Unicare Hospital in Rajkot of performing surgery on the wrong leg. The surgery, which was allegedly negligent and unauthorized, left her with persistent pain for six months.
Sapna Patodiya filed a complaint at Gandhigram Police Station against a vascular surgeon, alleging that the surgery was conducted on her right leg instead of the left, for which she had been receiving treatment. The police have registered the case under relevant sections of the IPC for causing grievous hurt by rash or negligent actions endangering human life.
Patodiya had been suffering from a minor injury to her left leg for nearly a decade, which worsened over time. After consulting with her local doctor, she was advised to visit a vascular surgeon. She chose Unicare Hospital due to its acceptance of Ayushman Bharat cardholders.
Patodiya claims that after a failed medication course, the surgeon recommended surgery. She was admitted on April 24, and the surgery was performed the next day. However, the doctors allegedly operated on her right leg without her consent after discovering a lump during the procedure.
After the surgery, while her left leg improved, Patodiya experienced severe pain in her right leg. An MRI revealed nerve damage near her knee. Upon raising the issue with the hospital, Patodiya claims she was not given a satisfactory explanation, prompting her to file a police complaint.
Unicare Hospital, however, denied the allegations, asserting that the patient and her family were fully informed about the surgery, and proper consent was obtained. The hospital maintained that the right leg surgery was necessary due to complications found during diagnosis and that the patient did not raise concerns during follow-ups.
