Cotton Swab Found in Stomach After Caesarean

The family members filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Police seeking a probe and demanded action against the hospital.

File Photo | PTI

SALEM: The family of Pratiba (27) who had a Caesarean delivery in a private hospital in Arisipalayam here has alleged that a cotton swab left inside her stomach had caused her severe pain and had to be removed sugically.

The family members on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Police seeking a probe and demanded action against the hospital.

According to the complainants, Pratiba of Rathinasabapathypuram had the operation on December 5 last year. After getting discharged, Pratiba had abdominal pain and was re-admitted to the same hospital where she was given some tablets for pain relief.

Pratiba later returned to Belden, Maharashtra where she was living with her husband. However, as the pain did not subside, she consulted a hospital in Maharashtra where a scan report found a swab of cotton inside her stomach. Pratiba then had the material removed after an expensive operation.

When Pratiba’s family took up the matter with the Arisipalayam hospital authorities, they were cold and allegedly declined to own up the medical negligence.