A government medical college in Haryana’s Nuh district has come under scrutiny after the family of a four-year-old boy alleged that doctors operated on his healthy leg instead of the infected one, prompting demands for an inquiry and action against those responsible.
The alleged incident took place at Shaheed Raja Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College, Nalhar, where the child’s father has submitted a written complaint to the institute’s Director, accusing the medical team of gross negligence during surgery.
According to the complaint, Arif, a resident of Mewli village, brought his four-year-old son Saad to the medical college on July 20 after the child developed swelling, infection, and pus formation in his left leg. Following medical examination, doctors advised an ultrasound and consultation with the Orthopaedics Department.
Based on the ultrasound findings, the child was admitted for surgery on July 23. Arif alleged that he had repeatedly informed Dr Pawan and the medical team that the infection was in his son’s left leg. However, he claimed that the doctors mistakenly operated on the child’s healthy right leg.
The family alleged that the error came to light only after the child was shifted back to the ward, where they noticed that the surgery had been performed on the unaffected leg. They said they immediately protested before the hospital authorities, following which the doctors allegedly acknowledged the mistake and took the child back into the operation theatre to perform surgery on the infected left leg.
Calling it a serious case of medical negligence, the family has sought registration of an FIR against the doctors concerned, a departmental inquiry and strict disciplinary action. They have also urged the medical college administration to fix accountability for the alleged lapse.
The incident triggered a political reaction, with Nuh Congress MLA Aftab Ahmed alleging that the episode had raised serious concerns over the functioning of the government medical college. Referring to previous controversies at the institution, including the reported discovery of a dead monkey in its drinking water tank, he alleged that the college had increasingly become a referral centre instead of providing quality treatment.
Aftab Ahmed demanded an impartial investigation into the alleged negligence and strict action against the doctors found responsible. He also urged the state government to provide adequate financial assistance and compensation to the child to ensure uninterrupted medical care and rehabilitation.
Responding to the controversy, Haryana Minister Vipul Goel said the matter had not yet come to his notice. He said that if a written complaint had been submitted, the government would have the allegations examined and take appropriate action based on the findings of the inquiry.
The allegations have put the spotlight on patient safety and medical protocols at the government-run institution. The medical college administration is yet to issue a detailed statement on the family’s allegations, while the outcome of the requested inquiry is awaited.