A routine tubectomy turned into a distressing medical ordeal for 22 year old Rama Devi in Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh. She underwent the procedure on 26 November 2025 at the Narasaraopet Government Hospital. Soon after the operation, she complained of persistent and severe pain. Doctors initially reassured her and said the discomfort was normal after surgery.
However, her pain only intensified. On 5 December, after days of suffering, hospital staff finally ordered a scan. The results stunned both the patient and her family. A surgical blade was found lodged near her thigh, left behind during the operation. The revelation triggered shock, fear, and deep anger in the family, who immediately demanded answers and accountability.
Authorities moved quickly after the discovery. The health department suspended the civil assistant surgeon who performed the operation, Dr T Narayana Swamy, along with the staff nurse who assisted him. The decision followed directions from senior officials who viewed the incident as a serious breach of medical responsibility.
The ongoing probe focuses on how surgical instruments were handled during the procedure and why the patient’s repeated complaints were dismissed for so many days. Officials have described the incident as unacceptable and emphasised that such lapses cannot be tolerated in government hospitals.
Rama Devi’s family remains shaken by the incident. They say she endured unbearable pain for days before the scan finally revealed the cause. Their trust in the hospital has been deeply affected. Relatives gathered outside the hospital to protest, demanding strict action and long term reforms to prevent similar tragedies.
Community members have also expressed concern, with many questioning the safety standards in government run facilities. They fear that if proper checks are not enforced, other patients may face similar risks during routine surgeries.
This case is not the first of its kind in the region. In recent months, several incidents involving surgical blades and other foreign objects left inside patients have been reported in Andhra Pradesh.
On 27 November 2025 doctors at the Tuni Government Area Hospital in Kakinada district left a surgical blade inside a patient’s leg during what should have been a simple procedure on. The patient, Koppireddy Chinna, had come in to have a bolt removed from steel plates inserted after an earlier fracture. After the operation, he began experiencing sharp pain. When doctors ordered an X ray, they discovered the blade still lodged in his leg. They immediately performed a second surgery to remove it.
They point to overstretched government hospitals, inadequate staffing, heavy workloads, and insufficient monitoring systems. Analysts warn that repeated negligence could damage public confidence and discourage people from seeking care at government hospitals.
In response to rising criticism, state health authorities have promised a thorough investigation. They plan to review all surgical protocols across government hospitals, including the mandatory counting of instruments before and after procedures. Officials say they will also strengthen supervision and establish stricter accountability mechanisms for surgical teams.
(Rh/ARC)