A case of medical negligence has been alleged against a doctor from Bagalkote district in Karnataka after a 26-year-old pregnant woman lost her arm to gangrene. The woman’s husband has filed a complaint against a doctor at a private hospital in Ilkal, alleging negligence in treating his wife.

On June 6, Shilpa Banjatri reportedly visited her gynaecologist in Shavi Sanjivni hospital with a fever, and was given a blood transfusion and intravenous saline and sent home.

A day later, Shilpa’s right arm was swollen and she was taken to the hospital again. Doctors were unable to diagnose the issue and referred her to a different hospital. But the family was unable to move her to a different hospital due to financial constraints, so she was treated with antibiotics and painkillers at the same hospital.

On June 9, Shilpa found the pain to be quite unbearable and was rushed to Kerudi Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Bagalkote, where doctors determined that her arm was infected with gangrene and would require amputation to prevent it from spreading.

Shilpa underwent the procedure on June 10, wherein her right arm was amputated below the elbow. Following this, her husband filed a complaint at the Ilkal police station on Sunday accusing the gynaecologist of negligence.

The family alleged that the hospital in Ilkal had an unhygienic environment and that blood was not administered properly to Shilpa, as a result of which she had developed complications.

Speaking to TNM, a police officer familiar with the case said, “A case has been filed under section 338 of the IPC (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) against the doctor and the hospital. We have begun the investigation.”