Elderly Woman Allegedly Operated on Wrong Leg at Jodhpur’s MDM Hospital
A serious case of alleged medical negligence has surfaced at Mathura Das Mathur Hospital, where a 66-year-old woman was reportedly operated on the wrong leg, triggering administrative action and a formal inquiry by hospital authorities.
According to reports, the woman was admitted to the state-run hospital after sustaining injuries during a physical altercation. Medical examinations reportedly revealed fractures in both legs. However, doctors had allegedly decided that surgery was required only on one leg.
The operation was conducted on April 27, but concerns were raised after it was discovered that the surgery had allegedly been performed on the wrong leg. The incident immediately alerted the hospital administration, which subsequently constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the matter.
Inquiry Committee Finds Prima Facie Supervisory Negligence
Based on the findings of the inquiry committee, the administration initiated action against an Associate Professor from the Orthopaedics Department. The doctor has been relieved from duties at MDM Hospital and transferred to the Medical Education Department in Jaipur pending further posting orders.
The committee reportedly found prima facie evidence of supervisory negligence. During the inquiry, the doctor initially maintained that both legs of the patient were fractured and that surgeries were eventually planned for both limbs.
However, the investigation reportedly concluded that the wrong-site surgery occurred due to a failure to adhere to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Patient Safety Concerns Intensify in Government Hospitals
The incident has once again raised serious concerns regarding patient safety protocols and surgical verification procedures in government-run healthcare institutions.
Wrong-site surgeries are considered among the most serious preventable medical errors globally, with healthcare systems expected to follow strict SOPs, including pre-surgery verification, site marking, and surgical team confirmation procedures.
Similar Incident Previously Reported in Karnataka
In another alleged case of medical negligence reported earlier, doctors at Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences were accused of operating on a woman’s right leg instead of her left leg, where a steel rod had been inserted two years earlier.
Such incidents continue to spark debate over accountability, medical oversight, and patient safety mechanisms in public healthcare facilities across India.
