Cotton left inside patient’s abdomen during surgery, Meerut doctor booked

A doctor has been booked for medical negligence for allegedly leaving a bundle of cotton inside a woman's abdomen following a C-section delivery, police said here on Saturday. The case was registered at TP Nagar police station against Dr Shikha Jain on Friday, following a court order by Assistant Chief Magistrate Prachi Aggarwal on a complaint by Rajni Sharma, an official said.

Sharma alleged that she gave birth to a daughter at Sirohi Nursing Home on June 30, 2018, where the surgery was performed by Dr Jain, a police officer said citing the complaint. She later experienced persistent stomach pain, but despite multiple consultations, the doctor diagnosed her with stomach ulcers, he said.

As her condition worsened, she underwent surgery at a medical college, where two operations were performed, the officer added. Sharma further alleged that the pain was due to a cotton bundle left in her abdomen due to Dr Jain's negligence, SHO Subodh Kumar Saxena said.

The complainant claimed that after receiving no response from authorities, including the Chief Medical Officer, she moved the court, the SHO said. He added that, "The case was registered on Friday, following a court order of Assistant Chief Judicial Magistrate Prachi Aggarwal on the complaint by Rajni Sharma."

Dr Jain has denied all allegations, saying, "There is nothing like that. This is just a way to take money from the doctor." When questioned about the alleged monetary demands from the woman, she told PTI that she was not aware of the specifics.

Meerut CMO Dr Ashok Kataria said he was unaware of any complaint filed by Sharma at his office. Police has initiated an investigation into the matter.