Botched: Govt docs operate wrong leg

Botched: Govt docs operate wrong leg 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

08.07.2025

Villupuram : The district administration constituted a four-member committee comprising doctors from Villupuram govt medical college and hospital in Mundiyampakkam to probe the allegations of a patient. The patient claimed that surgeons at the Villupuram govt general hospital performed surgery on his left leg instead of his right leg to correct two ligaments in the knee that were torn and damaged. 

The administration directed the committee to submit a report within two days. The patient, N Marimuthu, a private bus conductor from Periyathachur village near Vikravandi in Villupuram, complained of severe pain in his right knee. He visited Villupuram govt general hospital for treatment. The doctors diagnosed that two ligaments in his right knee were torn and damaged and informed him that surgery could correct the issue. 

A medical team led by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Saravanan performed a four-hour surgery on Marimuthu on July. When he was shifted to the post-operative ward, his wife was shocked to notice that his left leg was bandaged and realised that the surgeons performed the surgery on the wrong leg. 

Marimuthu lodged a complaint with the hospital authorities. Villupuram Joint Director (Health) P N Ramesh Babu said the panel headed by him, made inquiries with the surgeon, anaesthesiologist, theatre assistant, staff nurse who performed the surgery, and the chief medical officer of the hospital. 

“We did the inquiry in a systematic manner following protocol. All those involved in the surgery were questioned. We spoke to the patient’s wife for more information on their charges. We concluded the inquiry and sent the report to the director of medical services,” said Babu.