A routine gallstone surgery at District Hospital (DH) Shopian took an unexpected turn, leaving the patient’s family raising serious concerns about the hospital’s handling of the procedure.
The patient, scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy on Wednesday morning, was taken into surgery around 11:30 AM after completing all necessary tests.
Expecting a minimally invasive operation, her family grew anxious as the procedure extended beyond the anticipated time.
According to the family, hospital staff repeatedly assured them that the surgery was proceeding as planned.
However, they claim they were not informed that complications had arisen, forcing doctors to abandon the laparoscopic method and switch to an open cholecystectomy.
“When they finally told us about the situation, our patient’s condition had worsened. She was transferred to Srinagar in critical condition around 4:00 PM. Had we been informed earlier, we could have arranged for a quicker transfer,” a family member said, accusing the hospital of negligence.
Responding to the allegations, Dr. Khalid Abbas Molvi, Medical Superintendent of DH Shopian, clarified that complications sometimes necessitate a switch to open surgery. He emphasized that the decision was made to prioritize the patient’s safety.
“The patient was shifted to SMHS Hospital under medical supervision, and she is now stable. We followed standard medical protocol,” Dr. Khalid stated, adding that any claims of negligence would be investigated if necessary.