Informing patients about a mishap and / or any untoward situation during the procedure is a good practice. It not only helps patient make a decision, but also aids doctor in the court of law, as this case exemplifies.

The patient consulted gynaecologist for terminating unwanted pregnancy. The doctor performed dilation and curettage (D&C) after explaining pros and cons of the procedure. Unfortunately, the tip of cannula – about 6.5 mm – broke and remained in patient’s uterus despite attempts to remove it.
 

The patient, a senor citizen woman, suffered from abdominal pain. Medicines prescribed by the local doctor did not help. She consulted the doctor at his hospital; intestinal swelling was diagnosed.

Patient continued to experience agonizing stomach pain despite change in medicines and line of treatment. The doctor consulted other physicians and advised laparoscopic surgery at another hospital. But to no avail.  

There was discharge from the operated site and hence, yet another surgery was performed by another doctor. The patient developed septicaemia and was eventually put on ventilator. The senior citizen lost the last battle of her life, she died after forty-two days.

The patient, a young girl of about twelve or thirteen years, experienced sharp pain in the abdomen. She was taken to the hospital where bicomuate uterus was diagnosed, a rare congenital disorder.

The surgeon performed exploratory laparotomy, and the patient was discharged after few days. However, the young girl experienced excruciating abdominal pain after a month. She was again taken to the surgeon.
 

The patient delivered a healthy baby and underwent tubectomy thereafter. However, she conceived again after thirteen years. The community centre, where the procedure was performed, was sued.

The patient, a sixty-five-year-old retired inter-college principal, was rushed to a hospital where low platelet count was diagnosed. The senior citizen was taken to another hospital where the doctors confirmed that she was suffering from immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).  

The patient was given intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG) therapy, along with Dapsone and other medicines. Her condition improved and she was discharged after few days.

A retired army colonel visited the hospital as an OPD patient with complains of disorientation and loss of control of left hand. Admittedly, there was a queue of OPD patients waiting for their turn to consult. Hence, his consultation was delayed.

Unfortunately, the patient suffered a seizure in the waiting area. The doctors rushed him to emergency ward, NCCT scan among other tests were performed. The retired colonel was diagnosed with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

A pregnant patient with previous complicated pregnancies was consulting the hospital for prenatal care. USG was performed in September 2005 when the foetus was almost ten weeks old. All parameters were reported to be normal. She was advised to get another USG done between 18th and 20th week.

The patient relocated to UAE to resume her career and returned in December. Another USG was performed which also reported normal findings. Admittedly, the patient did not get the USG done as advised between 18th and 20th week.

Yet another USG was performed a month before delivery, which also reported normal findings.

The patient delivered a boy in March 2006. Unfortunately, the newborn had severe anomalies; both legs from below the knees were missing, as was the right hand.