In a startling case of medical negligence that unfolded over nearly 17 years of legal battles, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has mandated a Pune doctor and hospital to pay ₹26.50 lakh in compensation after a woman passed away due to severe complications from a surgical towel left inside her abdomen during a cesarean section.
Surgical Error Led to Fatal Complications
The incident occurred on August 8, 2008, when Rupali Kukde was admitted to Jeevandeep Medicare Centre, Sus Road, for the delivery of her second child. Although the C-section was initially successful, the medical team panicked upon discovering that a surgical towel had been inadvertently left inside her abdomen while stitching the incision.
The doctors quickly reopened her stitches to extract the towel. During this emergency procedure, Rupali experienced a cardiac arrest, and her condition rapidly worsened. She was transferred to another hospital, where she was diagnosed with encephalopathy, indicating severe brain damage. Rupali fell into a coma shortly after and remained unconscious for nearly three years until her death on May 1, 2011.
Commission Identifies Multiple Failures
Rupali’s husband, Prashant Kukde, lodged a complaint in 2008. The sluggish case finally reached a conclusion with the Pune bench of the State Consumer Commission — presided over by Milind Sonawane and member Nagesh Kumbre — finding the hospital and attending physician Dr. Deepalakshmi Ragde guilty of negligence and inadequate medical service.
The commission pointed out significant procedural failures, including:
Failure to transfer the critical patient for advanced care without delay
Delayed medical reports and discharge documents for more than six weeks
Insufficient airway protection during the surgical procedure
Lack of adequate post-operative monitoring
Advocate Gnyanraj Sant, who represented the complainant, stated that the ruling, although delayed, emphasizes accountability and serves as a crucial reminder of the necessity for stringent patient-safety protocols.