Kota, Rajasthan — An incident of gross medical negligence has surfaced from Kota's Government Medical College, leaving both the patient's family and hospital authorities in disbelief. A man who had brought his son for an operation ended up on the surgical table himself due to a shocking identity mix-up.

The bizarre and unsettling incident took place on April 12 at the Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) department of the college hospital. According to the information, a dialysis fistula — a minor yet essential surgical procedure that allows easy access to a patient’s bloodstream for dialysis — was scheduled for a patient. However, instead of operating on the intended patient, the medical staff mistakenly performed the incision on the patient’s father, who was merely an attendant waiting outside the operation theater.

How the confusion happened
The mistake unfolded when both the patient and the father shared the same name — Jagdish. While the surgical staff called out the name near the OT, the father, who was seated nearby, raised his hand, assuming his son's name was being announced for some update. Without cross-verifying his identity or the surgical plan, the staff led him straight inside the OT and positioned him on the surgical table.

Unaware of the mix-up, doctors proceeded to make the surgical cut required for the dialysis fistula. Moments later, the plastic surgery team — which was supposed to operate on the man's son — arrived and immediately recognized the error. By then, the incision had already been made.

Quick stitches, but major questions
Upon realizing the blunder, the staff quickly stitched the surgical cut on the father’s arm and escorted him back to his son's hospital ward. Only after that did the original patient undergo the planned dialysis fistula surgery.

The shocking incident sent the hospital administration into a frenzy. Dr. Sangeeta Saxena, the principal of Kota Medical College, took immediate cognizance and ordered a detailed investigation. A high-level committee has been formed, and the hospital superintendent has been directed to submit a report at the earliest.

Dr. Saxena assured strict action against those found guilty of negligence, stating, "Such careless handling of patients cannot be tolerated, and accountability will be ensured."

This incident has not only raised concerns about the identification protocols in operation theaters but has also triggered public outrage over the lack of safety checks in such a reputed government healthcare institution.