Imagine going in for hernia surgery and coming out with your appendix removed.
That’s exactly what happened to a man from West Bengal who allegedly went to the doctor for a hernia operation—only to discover later that his appendix had been removed instead.
How it Came to Light
Days after the surgery, the patient started experiencing pain and swelling in the lower abdomen, the original site of the hernia. Hernias usually occur when an internal organ or tissue bulges through a weak spot in the surrounding muscles, often around the abdomen.
Concerned, he went for a follow-up ultrasound, which revealed that the hernia was still present and untreated, while the appendix had been removed.
Alleged Sequence of Events
Biswajit Das, a resident of Sodepur, had visited Panihati State General Hospital for his hernia treatment. The attending doctor, who incidentally shares the same name, allegedly advised him to get the surgery done at a private nursing home instead. This nursing home was reportedly owned by the doctor himself.
The doctor had assured the patient that the surgery would be covered under the Swasthya Sathi health scheme run by the West Bengal government.
However, hernia surgeries aren’t covered under the scheme, while appendectomies (removal of the appendix) are.
The family now alleges that the doctor removed the patient’s appendix—without consent and without medical need—just to claim funds under the scheme.
The patient was even told that the surgery was successful.
On discovering the truth, he filed a complaint against the doctor.
Past Complaints Resurface
Following the patient’s complaint, an investigation was launched.
Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of North 24 Parganas, Samudra Sengupta, confirmed the development. Speaking to The Times of India, he said the doctor in question has faced complaints earlier too, some related to similar irregularities in surgical procedures.
Health officials are now reviewing those past cases as part of the inquiry. Strict action will be taken if he is found guilty.
What is the Swasthya Sathi Scheme
The Swasthya Sathi scheme is a state-level initiative launched by the West Bengal government in December 2016. It provides basic health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family, per year, for secondary and tertiary care.
What It Highlights
Cases like this raise serious concerns about the misuse of public health schemes and how far some may go to exploit them, at the cost of patient safety and trust. It also brings to focus how repeated complaints, if not looked into carefully, can end up affecting more people over time.
(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)