Manjeri: A doctor in Malappuram has been suspended for performing a hernia surgery on a seven-year-old boy instead of removing a growth in his nasal passage in an apparent case of mistaken identity.
Mohammed Danish was operated for hernia on Tuesday at Manjeri Medical College Hospital. Danish's parents noticed that their son was operated in the stomach, instead of removing his nasal polyp. According to hospital sources, there was another patient, named Dhanush, slotted for hernia surgery.
The mistake probably owed to the similarity in names. Health Minister K K Shailaja ordered a probe and suspended Dr A Suresh Kumar. "Patients must not suffer due to the negligence of the hospital staff," she said, promising free treatment to the boy.
The State Human Right Commission registered a case in connection and asked the medical college superintendent to submit a report with the statements of all staff present inside the operation theatre.
