Alappuzha: In another instance of alleged medical negligence, a surgical scissor was found inside the abdomen of a 51-year-old woman nearly five years after she underwent a hysterectomy (uterus removal surgery) at Alappuzha Medical College Hospital.

The scissors, identified as a long, curved Metzenbaum scissors used in surgeries, were found in the abdomen of Usha Josephkutty, a resident of Punnapra in Allapuzha district, after she complained of persistent abdominal pain and blood in her urine.

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The surgery was performed on May 10, 2021. Since then, she had been undergoing treatment at various places for recurring pain, but the cause remained undetected. On Wednesday, an X-ray taken on the advice of a urology specialist revealed the presence of the scissors.

She visited the medical college hospital on Thursday morning and consulted a doctor. According to a relative, some doctors allegedly asked the family not to disclose the matter.

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Usha is a daily wage worker under the employment guarantee scheme, while her husband Josephkutty is a labourer. The family is currently living in a rented house in Paravur.

Punnapra South grama panchayat vice-president KF Tobias demanded that the government provide emergency financial assistance to the family. Hospital superintendent Dr A. Harikumar said an inquiry would be conducted and that no formal complaint had been received so far.

‘I don’t want to go back to Vandanam’

Usha was later shifted to a private hospital in Kochi late at night, accompanied by her son Shibin. Congress MP KC Venugopal has offered to bear all medical expenses.

Usha told reporters on her way to a private hospital for treatment on Thursday that she was afraid to return to Alappuzha Medical College, Vandanam. She said she was unwilling to undergo surgery there and preferred to have the procedure done at another hospital.

Following this, she was shifted to Amrita Hospital in Kochi. Meanwhile, the Director of Medical Education has ordered an inquiry into the incident.