Shocking Medical Negligence: 4-Year-Old Operated on Tongue Instead of Finger in Kozhikode

In a shocking case of medical negligence at a government medical college in Kozhikode, Kerala, a four-year-old girl underwent surgery on her tongue instead of the scheduled procedure to remove an additional finger on her hand. The incident took place at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health (IMCH) attached to the medical college.

The surgery was performed by associate professor Dr Bejohn Johnson, who has since been suspended pending a detailed investigation. The girl’s parents were not informed or asked for consent before the surgery on her tongue, which was done to correct a minor tongue tie that the surgeon claimed she had.

After the surgery, the girl’s relatives noticed that the additional finger was still intact, leading to her being taken back to the operating theatre for the correct procedure. The surgeon later provided a written explanation to the parents, stating that there would be no complications from the unauthorized surgery on the girl’s tongue.

The incident has sparked outrage and a police case has been registered against the surgeon under sections 336 and 337 of the Indian Penal Code for endangering human life through negligence. The hospital authorities have acknowledged the lapse in obtaining consent for the surgery and have promised a thorough investigation into the matter.

The girl’s family has expressed shock and disbelief over the botched surgery and is demanding accountability from the hospital and the medical staff involved. The case highlights the importance of proper communication and consent procedures in medical settings to prevent such incidents of negligence from occurring in the future.