Two Assistant Professors, two PG students suspended for medical negligence at Kakinada GGH
Two assistant professors and two postgraduate students were suspended after a surgical cannula was left inside a woman's abdomen during a delivery operation at Kakinada Government General Hospital. The incident has prompted an internal inquiry and raised concerns about patient safety across Indian public hospitals.
A woman who underwent a delivery operation at the Government General Hospital in Kakinada was readmitted a few days later with severe abdominal pain. Hospital officials later discovered that a cannula, a thin tube used during surgery, had been inadvertently left inside her abdomen. The oversight was identified only after the patient returned to the emergency department complaining of persistent stomach discomfort. Medical staff removed the foreign object in a second procedure, and the woman is now recovering under observation. The incident has raised immediate concerns about surgical safety protocols at the facility.
Following the discovery, the principal of Rangaraya Medical College, which is attached to the hospital, announced the suspension of two assistant professors and two postgraduate students who were part of the operating team. The suspension is described as a precautionary measure while a detailed inquiry is conducted by the college’s internal review board and the state health department. The college has also ordered a temporary halt to elective surgeries in the obstetrics unit until the investigation clarifies the lapse. Families of patients have been urged to report any similar concerns, and the hospital administration has pledged full cooperation with law enforcement.
The episode arrives at a time when India is tightening regulations on medical malpractice and patient rights, following several high‑profile cases that have eroded public confidence in health services. Experts say that systematic checks such as surgical count protocols and mandatory post‑operative imaging can prevent similar errors, but implementation varies across public hospitals. Observers expect the inquiry’s findings to influence future policy, potentially prompting stricter oversight and training reforms. For patients across the country, the case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for transparent grievance mechanisms within the health sector.
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