Doctor forgets to remove swab after C-section

Mumbai: In an instance of carelessness during surgery, a piece of gauze measuring ‘3x2’ was removed from a 33-year-old wom-an’s abdomen at civic-run Vasai-Virar municipal corporation’s VVMC) maternity hospital at Tulinj, Nalasopara. The woman’s husband said that during her caesarean section (C-section) carried out at the same hospital in April, the doctor forgot to remove the surgical swab.

Shama Shaikh (33), delivered her first child at VVMC hospital on April 27. After her C-section, a surgical swab was present in Shama’s abdomen for over a month. The gauze was left inside by a surgeon who performed the surgery in April, said Shama’s husband, Shabbir Ali Shaikh. The doctors at VVMC removed the surgical swab on Sunday. Shabbir Ali Shaikh has written to the Tulinj police, demanding strict action and immediate suspension of the doctor. “I will write to the CM and the medical council. Such things are not acceptable.” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Rajesh Chavhan, CHO, VVMC, said, “Shama was specifically told to come after two days so that it could be removed. She is falsely accusing VVMC of medical negligence.”