In a chilling case of alleged medical negligence, a piece of surgical cloth measuring nearly half a metre was found inside a woman’s abdomen 15 months after she underwent a Caesarean delivery at a private hospital in Greater Noida.

Police have registered an FIR against six accused, including three doctors, the hospital’s chief medical officer (CMO), and two health department officials.

The FIR was lodged at the Knowledge Park police station on December 24 based on a complaint filed by the woman’s husband, a resident of Delta-1, Greater Noida.

The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 125 and 125(b) (endangering life through rash or negligent acts), Section 255 (public servant knowingly disobeying law to shield an offender), and Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation).

According to the complaint, the woman, who works as a domestic worker and earns extra income through sewing and embroidery, underwent a C-section at a private hospital in the Knowledge Park area on November 14, 2023, and was discharged two days later.

Soon after returning home, she began experiencing severe and persistent abdominal pain, which worsened over the following months.

As her condition deteriorated, she noticed a growing lump near the surgical site. She sought treatment at multiple hospitals in Muzaffarnagar and Greater Noida, including Sharda Hospital and other private medical facilities.

Despite repeated consultations, diagnostic tests failed to identify the cause of her suffering. On March 22, 2025, after developing a high fever and unbearable abdominal pain, she visited Yatharth City Hospital, but was sent home with medication.

Further visits to GIMS Hospital on April 7 and Naveen Hospital on April 8 also failed to provide clarity, despite MRI scans and cancer-related tests.

As the lump became more pronounced, she approached Kailash Hospital on April 14, where doctors advised immediate surgery. During the second surgery on April 22, doctors discovered and removed a surgical cloth left inside her abdomen since the C-section. The family has submitted photographs and videos of the object being extracted as evidence.

The woman reportedly required eight units of blood during the second surgery. Doctors have since told her that a third surgery is not advisable, raising serious concerns about her future health and ability to conceive.

The husband alleged that although the CMO assured a fair probe and constituted a two-member inquiry committee, the investigation was deliberately delayed, and the cloth was never sent for forensic examination.

The couple has also alleged that they were threatened and warned against pursuing the case further. Police said further investigation is underway.