Patient With Head Injury Gets Operated on Leg by Doctor in Delhi

A patient admitted to Delhi’s Shusrut Trauma Centre with a head injury was operated on his leg instead.

Vijendra Singh was admitted to Delhi’s Shusrut Trauma Centre for a head injury but instead was operated on his leg

(Photo: ANI)

In a case of mistaken identity and medical negligence, a senior resident at Delhi’s government-run Shusrut Trauma Centre performed leg surgery on a person admitted with a head injury.

Vijendra Tyagi was admitted to the medical facility after suffering a head injury in an accident. However, the doctor in question mistook him for Virendra, another patient admitted with a fractured leg in the same ward. Vijendra was taken in for surgery and the surgeon drilled a hole into Tyagi’s leg to place a pin inside. Since the patient was under anaesthesia, he had no knowledge about the operation being performed, the medical superintendent at Shusrut Trauma Centre said.

Once the hospital authorities were made aware of this blunder, a corrective procedure was performed on the patient.

The doctor in question has been barred from conducting surgeries without supervision.

The doctor allegedly tampered patient reports to steer clear of allegations.

A committee constituted to look into the matter found the senior resident was at fault. He has been barred from conducting surgeries without supervision with immediate effect.

Ajay Bahl, Medical Superintendent at Sushrut Trauma Centre

Twitterati’s sharp comments on the incident highlighted their indignation.

‘Need for Strict Action’

The family of the patient has decided not to take up the case with concerned authorities.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)