Kerala girl was scheduled for finger surgery, but doctor 'mistakenly' operated on tongue

In a bizarre incident at Kozhikode Medical College in Kerala, a doctor performed surgery on a child's tongue instead of her finger. Following the controversy sparked by this mistake, the doctor was suspended.

The girl was admitted at Kozhikode Medical College for the removal of her sixth finger. However, after coming out of the operating theatre, the family was shocked to know that the operation had been performed on her tongue.

The parents of the girl alleged that when questioned, the doctor claimed that a cyst had been diagnosed inside the mouth, makingthe tongue surgerynecessary.

The family disproved this, asserting there had been no issue with the girl’s tongue and accusedthe doctor's of negligence and called it a shameful act.

A family member mentioned that hospital authorities later explained the error occurred because surgeries for two children had been scheduled on the same day.

The incident caused widespread outrage in the state, leading Health Minister Veena George to suspend the doctor on duty after receiving a report from the Director of Medical Education.

The minister has issued strict instructions for hospitals to strictlyadhereto surgery and other medical procedures and protocols.

A police case was filed against the doctor based on a complaint from the girl's family, citing IPC Sections 336 (endangering the life or personal safety of others) and 337 (causing hurt by an act endangering the life or personal safety of others).

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan condemned the incident and expressed concerns about the declining quality of medical services in the state.

(With inputs from agencies)