The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Kerala): In a shocking incident at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala, a four-year-old girl who was scheduled for surgery to remove a sixth finger ended up having an operation on her tongue. The mistake was discovered when her family noticed cotton in the child’s mouth after the surgery.
The error led to the suspension of Associate Professor Dr. Bejohn Johnson, pending an investigation. Health Minister Veena George ordered the suspension following a report from the Director of Medical Education. The minister also directed a detailed inquiry and emphasized strict adherence to medical protocols.
The child’s family, outraged by the mistake, filed a police complaint seeking accountability for the error. They emphasized that the hospital must take responsibility for any adverse consequences the child might suffer due to the erroneous procedure. The family mentioned that the mix-up occurred because two children had surgeries scheduled on the same date. A family member reported that the doctor had apologized for the mistake.
Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, condemned the incident, calling it “serious medical malpractice.” He urged strict disciplinary actions against those responsible. Satheesan criticized the government for not adequately addressing repeated medical errors in state hospitals, pointing to previous incidents like that of Harshina, who had a device left in her stomach during surgery.
The hospital administration, facing severe backlash, is under pressure to ensure such errors do not happen again. The investigation will determine the full scope of the oversight and the necessary measures to prevent future occurrences.