Hospital in the Dock as Woman Conceives After Tubectomy
The husband of a 25-year-old woman has sought action against authorities of the state-run K C General Hospital in Malleswaram as she has conceived despite undergoing a tubectomy two years ago.
Okalipuram resident Ramakrishna said his wife Saritha had undergone the procedure, also called tube ligation at the hospital.
The couple has two children.
Ramakrsihna said, “The doctors did not conduct the procedure properly. As a result, she has conceived and is now two months pregnant. Appropriate action must be taken against these doctors”.
Medical Superintendent and gynaecologist of the hospital Dr Vimala Patil told Express that the patient had undergone a Caesarian section earlier and that there is a chance of pregnancy despite the tubectomy.
“It is rare, but possible. Five in 1,000 patients have a chance of conceiving despite this method of birth control. The fact that she had a C-section has increased her chances,” she explained.
Saritha will also be compensated for this, Dr Vimala said.
She alleged that Ramakrishna is trying to exert pressure on the hospital to cough up money as he is not ready to wait for the compensation to be given to him by the government.
She said the man had also blackmailed the hospital authorities. Ramakrishna has registered a complaint with the Malleswaram police.
On his part, Ramakrishna, who drives a road roller, said, “If the doctors had done the procedure properly, she would not have conceived again. The doctors failed to do the surgery properly.”
Explaining that recanalisation is rare, but possible, gynaecologist at Enfold Proactive Health Trust, Dr Shaibya Saldanha, said while conception after a tubectomy is rare, one in 1,000 patients may conceive if a tubectomy is not done properly.
“However, there is a 0.01 per cent chance that pregnancy can occur even if the tubal ligation is properly done. Patients are already informed, before the surgery that the procedure cannot give 100 per cent contraception,” she explained.