Meerut (UP): In an unfortunate incident, a 55-year-old woman died after undergoing bariatric surgery at a private hospital here on Tuesday. Following this, her family members have come forward against the attending doctor, alleging gross negligence.

The situation at Nutima Hospital on Garh Road took a serious turn, prompting intervention from both the police and health department officials.

Rajni Gupta, a resident of Sadar Bazar and wife of businessman Brajmohan Gupta, was admitted to the hospital on July 11 for bariatric (weight-loss) surgery. Her family claimed she was influenced by a social media advertisement promoting the procedure. At the time of admission, she weighed 123 kg and underwent surgery performed by bariatric surgeon Dr. Rishi Singhal.

Her son, Shubham Gupta, said that his sister, Shivani (26), who also weighed around 120 kg, was admitted alongside their mother for the same surgery. According to the family, the doctor had assured them that the procedure would result in a weight loss of up to 30 kg within 24 hours.

While Shivani’s surgery was reportedly successful, Rajni’s condition worsened soon after the operation. She began experiencing severe abdominal pain the following day, which the family alleges was ignored by the medical staff. An X-ray conducted on July 13 reportedly showed a leak in her abdomen, believed to have occurred during surgery, which led to a serious infection.

The family claims that Rajni did not receive proper medical attention following the complication and ultimately died on Tuesday due to negligence.

Rajni's husband filed a complaint at the Medical Police Station, accusing the doctor and the hospital staff of negligence. However, no FIR has been registered yet.

"The complaint has been forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and further action will depend on the investigation report," SHO Shilesh Kumar told PTI.

CMO Dr Ashok Kumar Kataria told PTI he has not yet received the complaint and will act accordingly once it arrives.

In response to the allegations, Dr Rishi Singhal denied any negligence. Speaking to PTI, he said Rajni and her daughter attended an event on December 15, 2024, featuring over 150 of his treated patients.

Impressed by the results, they approached him on July 8, requesting surgeries while their family business was on hold due to the Kanwar Yatra, the doctor said.

He further noted that he informed them that the surgery could not be done immediately without tests and proper preparation. Shivani returned the next day with reports, and Rajni's surgery was scheduled for July 11, while Shivani's was booked for July 14.

"Rajni had multiple pre-existing conditions - diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, fatty liver, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and cardiac concerns," he said, adding that both mother and daughter were informed that the procedure would be critical.

Rajni underwent a successful surgery on July 11, after which Shivani requested her surgery be advanced to July 12. Both were stable until the morning of July 13. However, Rajni experienced uneasiness that evening and was "immediately shifted" to the ICU, the doctor said.

He further claimed that a team of doctors, including Vishwajeet Bembi, Vishal Saxena, Avneet Rana, Mitul Jain, Hariraj Tomar, and Sandeep Garg, attempted treatment, but she died of a heart attack despite their efforts. PTI