Doctor in Kerala’s Kannur booked over alleged medical negligence, hospital denies charges

The Kannur Town police have registered a case against a doctor at KIMS Sreechand Hospital after a patient alleged that she was discharged without the fish bone lodged in her throat being removed, resulting in prolonged pain and further surgery.

The case was been registered against Dr. Gaurav Baber, 35, following a complaint by P.V. Savithri, a resident of Echikkovil, Pilicode, in Kasaragod district.

In the complaint, Ms. Savithri said she was admitted to the hospital after a fish bone got stuck in her throat. Following an endoscopic procedure, doctors told her that the bone had been removed, and that she had been discharged. However, her throat pain persisted. Further treatment and a CT scan at the Pariyaram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) revealed that another fish bone remained lodged in her throat. The retained bone was later surgically removed at the hospital.

The police said the case was registered after a preliminary inquiry into a complaint submitted by Ms. Savithiri to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kannur, alleging medical negligence and physical suffering caused by the treatment.

Responding to the allegations, the KIMS Sreechand Hospital authorities denied any medical negligence and said the incident had occured in February this year. According to the hospital, the patient underwent an endoscopic removal of the fish bone after an X-ray identified a foreign body in her throat.

The hospital said the treating gastroenterologist had advised a CT scan after the procedure, in line with the standard protocol, to confirm that no additional foreign body remained in the patient’s throat. However, the patient allegedly declined to undergo the scan citing financial constraints and took discharge against the doctor’s advice. She was also asked to return for review after two days. 

Instead, the patient later sought treatment at the Kannur Government MCH, where a CT scan reportedly detected another fish bone, which was subsequently removed, said hospital administrator Muhammed Nabeel.

KIMS hospital maintained that no surgery was performed at the hospital, contrary to the complaint, and that only an endoscopic procedure had been done. The hospital said all procedures and medical records were fully documented, and that it had cooperated with the police investigation.

According to the hospital, the police had earlier heard the doctor’s explanation during the preliminary inquiry, and the management believes that the case is without merit. It alleged that the complaint was intended to tarnish the reputation of the hospital.