A serious allegation has been made against doctors and nurses at the 250-bed General Hospital in Thakurgaon, Bangladesh, for allegedly leaving a gauze pad inside a woman’s abdomen after a delivery-related surgical procedure.
According to a written complaint submitted to the hospital superintendent on Tuesday afternoon, Sathi Akter, a resident of Nishchintapur in Thakurgaon town, was admitted to the emergency unit early on 25 July with severe liver pain. She gave birth shortly after via normal delivery, during which a side episiotomy was performed.
It is alleged that following the procedure, medical staff stitched her up without removing internal gauze and a sanitary pad. She was discharged the next day under the care of gynaecologist Dr Irish Rahman. On 17 August, she was re-admitted with severe pain, but nurses refused to call a doctor, claiming the round was over. The following day, gynaecologist Dr Jinnat Parvin examined her and removed the pad.
Her husband, Abu Jor Gifari, accused hospital staff of negligence and demanded action. Dr Irish Rahman could not be reached for comment.
Superintendent Dr Mohammad Firoz Zaman confirmed the complaint and said an investigation is underway, and action will be taken if negligence is proven.
