In a distressing surprise, Sapna, a 38-year-old housewife from Bhandup, found that one of the three critical procedures she was scheduled for at Bombay Hospital had not been completed. The revelation came twelve days after the procedures, prompting her husband, Anil Lahoti, to file a complaint with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) against Dr. MM Begani, the general surgeon, for suspected medical malpractice and concealing critical information.
Dr. Begani reportedly performed successful gallbladder and hernia procedures. Despite the Lahoti family's payment of around ₹4 lakh, the third surgery to treat diastasis recti (a separation in the abdomen) was allegedly not performed.
The Lahotis first consulted Dr. Begani on January 29, and the decision to undertake all three procedures was based on Sapna's gallstone problem and pre-existing ailments such as diastasis recti and umbilical hernia since the birth of their first child in 2014.
Following the surgeries on February 10, Dr. Begani told the Lahotis that all three procedures went smoothly. However, the couple became dubious when self-examination highlighted concerns regarding the use of mesh in hernia repair, as Dr. Begani asserted. Their suspicions were heightened when the doctor failed to provide a satisfactory response upon inquiry.
We were surprised when instead of owning up to his mistakes, he said the surgery was not done because two laparoscopists surgeons who were supposed to be part of Sapna’s surgery, didn’t turn up. He also said he is not an expert in it and was dependable on the laparoscopists.Anil Lahoti, husband of the patient.
Despite Sapna's discharge on February 12, concerns remained, prompting the pair to seek a second opinion on February 16. Another general surgeon had qualms about completing the third surgery. When questioned, Dr. Begani apparently evaded reality by requesting the Lahotis submit a testimonial and setting up a follow-up a month later.
Growing increasingly skeptical, the Lahotis met a different general surgeon the next day, who also expressed concerns regarding the completion of the third surgery. On February 22, the family was astonished when Dr. Begani revealed that he did not execute the divarication procedure. Instead of accepting responsibility, Dr. Begani blamed the absence of two laparoscopic surgeons and said he wasn't an expert on the surgery.
Anil Lahoti, who is currently on prolonged leave due to his wife's post-surgery discomfort and anguish, stated that the hernia repair was not performed via laparoscopy, contrary to their previous assumption. All hospital documentation, including discharge summaries, listed three surgeries, and the Lahotis were charged accordingly.
Dr. Rajkumar V. Patil, Director of Medical Services at Bombay Hospital, acknowledged receiving the complaint on Tuesday and promised to look into the matter. Dr. Begani, however, was unavailable for comment. Dr. Vinky Rughwani, MMC administrator, acknowledged that Lahoti's complaint will be handled as a priority, with a comprehensive assessment of medical records to determine whether the doctor was to blame.
The episode raises severe concerns regarding medical procedure openness and emphasizes the importance of strict control in preventing surgical carelessness. The MMC's inquiry will be critical in evaluating Dr. Begani's level of responsibility and potential legal action, emphasizing the significance of accountability in healthcare.
Inputs from various sources.
(Rehash/Susmita Bhandary/MSM)