In an example of blatant medical negligence, a broken needle was left inside the body of a woman during stitching after delivery in Gopalpur primary health centre (PHC) here.
Though the delivery was done a week back, the incident came to light on Friday after the woman complained of severe pain and an X-ray was done. Later, an operation was carried out and the needle removed.
Sources said Kanakalata Ojha of Apitira village under Bahanaga block had delivered a baby girl at Gopalpur PHC on October 20. Though she had a normal delivery, the doctor had to cut her labia muscles for an easy delivery. Her husband Nilamadhaba alleged that doctor Ajay Singh and nurse Kausalya Das had left a broken needle inside the muscle while stitching it.
Kanaklata was later admitted to the district headquarters hospital and the needle removed. She alleged though the doctor and nurse knew that the needle was left inside while stitching, she was asked to go home as they could not spot the broken part. Even as Singh admitted to his fault, the Ojha couple have demanded compensation for the negligence.
However, CDMO Saraswati Behera let off him with just a word of caution. Behera asked the doctor and other health staff to be careful in future and warned of action if repeated henceforth. “The doctor admitted to his fault and brought the patient to the headquarters hospital to remove the needle. Now the woman is out of danger,” the CDMO added.
A few months back, a similar incident had occurred in Soro hospital where a nurse had allegedly cut the urinary tract of a woman during her delivery.