
A woman in Dakshina Kannada’s Puttur underwent emergency surgery to remove a surgical mop left inside her abdomen after a C-section delivery. The foreign body, which was allegedly dismissed as a hematoma by the operating doctor, led to a severe infection that spread to the woman’s lungs and other organs, putting her life at risk.
The woman’s husband Gagandeep B alleged that despite the mop being retrieved from her body, the doctor who performed the C-section refused to accept responsibility or provide compensation. “When we confronted him, he dismissed our concerns and told us the issue would resolve on its own. Later, when we asked for compensation, he said he would ‘throw some money at us’ and refused to acknowledge the suffering we endured,” he wrote on social media.
He described the ordeal as physically and emotionally devastating, adding that his livelihood as a farmer suffered. “I lost my crops because I could not tend to my farm during this crisis. We suffered immensely for months,” he added.
According to Gagandeep, the woman delivered their child via a C-section on November 27, 2024, at a private hospital and was discharged on December 2. A week later, she developed a high fever, and despite multiple visits to the hospital, their doctor only prescribed medication and no other examination. The couple insisted on an ultrasound after severe discomfort persisted on one side of the woman’s stomach and found a 10 cm mass. The ultrasound technician allegedly refused to disclose details to the couple, and the operating doctor dismissed it as a hematoma, stating that it would dissolve over time.
Once the woman’s fever subsided, the couple went back for a review but found that the mass had not reduced in size. During this visit, the doctor allegedly told them that the mass would take time to dissolve. As days passed, the woman’s condition worsened. She experienced severe joint and leg pain, making it difficult for her to stand, walk, or even lift her baby to feed.
A CT scan, conducted after referral to another hospital, confirmed the presence of a surgical mop inside her stomach. By then, the infection had spread to her lungs, blood, and other organs, putting her life at serious risk. An emergency surgery was performed on January 25, 2025, to remove the foreign body, after which she remained hospitalised until February 15.
District Health and Family Welfare Officer HR Thimmaiah announced that a six-member team of officials and doctors would investigate the case. He said that the inquiry should be completed within a week, and a report submitted to the Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare for further action.