Patient operated on abdomen instead of mouth

In a case of apparent mistaken identity, doctors of a government hospital here have operated on the lower abdomen of a patient instead of his mouth.

Ratan Das (45), a small trader from Ampi in Khowai district, was admitted to the G B Panth Hospital on September 6 for a surgery in his mouth but doctors operated on his urinary tract in the lower abdomen, according to the police complaint lodged by the patient's wife.

Questioned by the wife about the wrong operation, the doctors admitted that there had been a mistake and said they would correct the error, the FIR charging the doctors of gross medical negligence said.

The police said a case was registered against three doctors and an inquiry has been initiated.

Hospital sources said another Ratan Das had been admitted in the same hospital for an operation in the urinary tract and this could be a case of mistaken identity.

The health department has also ordered a separate inquiry into the incident.