Surgical instruments in abdomen: Kerala health minister says incidents occurred before her term

Pathanamthitta: Kerala Health Minister and Aranmula LDF candidate Veena George on Tuesday rejected allegations linking her to cases of surgical instruments being left inside patients, as a political exchange with UDF candidate Abin Varkey escalated during a public debate.

Speaking at the ‘Janamanassu’ debate at the Pathanamthitta Press Club, Veena George said the incidents cited by her opponent had taken place before she assumed charge of the health portfolio.

The controversy centres on multiple cases, including that of Usha Joseph, a 51-year-old from Punnapra in Alappuzha, who underwent surgery to remove artery forceps left in her abdomen following a 2021 procedure. The episode drew criticism of the government and the health department, and triggered protests.

Referring to this and another case, the minister said: “Usha Joseph had forceps left in her abdomen in 2021. In Kozhikode, a surgical instrument was left in Harshina’s abdomen in 2017. A narrative was created to pin the controversy on me.”

Her remarks came after Abin Varkey raised the Alappuzha and Kozhikode incidents during the discussion. He alleged that the minister’s comments were aimed at former minister K.K. Shailaja, who held the health portfolio in the previous LDF government.

Protest incident in Kannur  

The exchange also turned to a recent protest at Kannur Railway Station, where Veena George sustained injuries to her neck and hand during a black flag demonstration by KSU activists. The protest was part of wider agitation over reports of surgical tools being left inside patients.

Abin Varkey in an apparent dig over the attempt to murder case registered over the matter and police’s lethal weapon claim, criticised the handling of the incident. He said the injured minister had been taken through a road under construction, which he described as a lapse by the health department. He added that police had found no lethal weapon in the alleged attack and remarked that a even reward announced by Youth Congress  for visuals of the incident had not produced any evidence.

“Doctors said at 11 pm the previous night that the minister was in a serious condition. But discharging her early the next morning clearly reflects negligence,” he said.

Minister reiterates claim of attack

In response, Veena George maintained that she had been surrounded and attacked during the protest, reiterating her earlier claim in measured terms.