Alleged botched cosmetic surgery victim battles for justice, family seek probe by high-level team

It was on February 22 when Neethu, who is the mother of two kids, had undergone the procedure. The next day she suffered discomfort and was shifted to another hospital on February 24 as her condition worsened. A series of actions of the state health authorities strengthen her family's suspicion of sabotaging a fair probe, the latest being a medical board report in favour of the clinic.

Thiruvananthapuram: A 31-year old woman IT professional in Thiruvananthapuram who lost her four fingers and five toes following a liposuction surgery is now battling for justice with her family alleging that the Kerala health authorities were trying to cover up the lapses on the part of the private cosmetic clinic which was functioning without a valid licence.

Neethu M S, an employee of a leading IT firm, is facing the ordeal after she underwent the cosmetic surgery at a clinic in Kulathur on the suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram.

A series of actions of the state health authorities strengthen her family's suspicion of sabotaging a fair probe, the latest being a medical board report in favour of the clinic.

It was on February 22 when Neethu, who is the mother of two kids, had undergone the procedure. The next day she suffered discomfort and was shifted to another hospital on February 24 as her condition worsened.

She suffered a cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure leading to infection affecting fingers and toes that were amputated. She was under ventilator support for 21 days and is still at hospital.

Based on her husband Padmajith's complaint the police registered a case against the clinic. Dr Shenal Shashankan who performed the surgery was arraigned as the main accused.

Even while the complaint against the clinic was pending, the clinic that was so far running without licence was granted licence on May 5 by a panel in which the district medical officer is also a member. After it became controversial the licence was suspended.

The family alleges that the medical board report in favour of the clinic was also part of an attempt to sabotage the probe. "The delay on the part of the clinic in shifting her to a specialised hospital for giving proper treatment in time is also a medical negligence," Padmajith points out.

The family has now sought probe by a high-level team and is also exploring other legal options.

"We are already in a deep financial crisis as the treatment expenses have already crossed Rs 30 lakhs and the future job prospects of Neethu are also quite uncertain," says Padmajith, who is also an IT professional.

Some forums of doctors including the IMA, Thiruvananthapuram branch, had backed the clinic by stating that prima facie there could not be any medical negligence and a rare medical complication could have caused the unfortunate incident.