Forceps inside stomach becomes reason for woman's death – This is what happened

New Delhi: Jiviben Chavda, a salt pan worker from a Kutch village, went through a surgery to remove a tumour in her stomach in 2012, at the Civil Hospital in Asarwa.

In April this year, she was admitted again after she complained of severe stomach ache. X-rays conducted turned out shocking results.

Reports showed that there were forceps in the 45-year-old's stomach that were probably left there during the previous surgery.

After she was admitted again, she went through another surgery to have the instrument removed, but died on Sunday.

Jiviben's family members have alleged medical negligence on the part of hospital authorities and have subsequently filed a complaint at Shahibaug police Station.

However, the police has registered a case of accidental death. "Only after proper verification of the details narrated by the victim's kin will we take action against the responsible doctor," said a police officer, a report in the Times of India (TOI) said.

According to the report, the victim's kin have refused to take the body of the deceased woman until action had been taken against the doctor responsible for leaving behind the surgical forceps in her abdomen.

As per the Indian Express, deputy medical superintendent of Civil Hospital, Asarwa, Dr MD Gajjar said one of the reasons for Jiviben’s death was adhesion between the intestines. “She was under observation after her operation. She was malnourished and low on protein. We had to do a colostomy on her as well. She had other complications too,” said deputy medical superintendent Dr Gajjar.

On infection, he said an expert has to investigate the entire matter. “One cannot say that the only reason of her death was the forceps left behind in her stomach… The matter is with police and we are open to probe.”