Height Of Medical Negligence: Broken needle left inside patient's body

Coimbatore: A broken needle allegedly left inside the body of a 26-year-old man while he was administered injection by a nurse at a private hospital for typhoid, was safely removed today at Coimbatore Government Hospital. 

Thambidurai (26) from Kuniamuthur who was diagnosed with typhoid had visited Meenakshi Hospital in the same area for treatment. According to Thambidurai, on November 22, a nurse administered him with an injection on his lower back. As he felt a sharp pain after the injection, he fell suspicious and checked the needle of the syringe and found it to be damaged. 

When he inquired to the nurse she has convinced him with some lame reasons.

A couple of days later when Thambidurai experienced severe pain on his lower back, he visited Dr. Jayakumar of the same hospital and inquired the reason. However, it is alleged that the doctor evaded his questions and ask him to consult another hospital. 

Irked by the callous reply from the doctor, Thambidurai took an x-ray of his back which revealed that a 7mm of the broken needle was stuck in his body. 

Shell-shocked by the negligence, he rushed to Coimbatore Government Hospital for further treatment. Recalling his experience at the private hospital as 'tormenting', Thambidurai lamented that "I went to treat typhoid and got into bigger problems. And, now am here at the GH to remove the needle bit stuck inside my body due to the negligence of the staff nurse at the private hospital." 

"The needle would have botched up the syringe and in the process, a part of the broken needle got stuck inside my body. However, even after escalating the issue, the hospital management were very rude against me, instead of apologising", he alleged. 

Thambidurai has demanded legal action against the private hospital for blatant medical negligence.