A 55-year-old woman from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, died following a bariatric surgery at a private hospital, prompting her family to allege medical negligence, sparking an ongoing police investigation. The incident, involving Nutima Hospital and bariatric surgeon Dr. Rishi Singhal, has drawn attention to the risks of weight-loss surgery and the need for stringent post-operative care.
The Incident
Rajni Gupta, wife of local businessman Brajmohan Gupta, underwent bariatric surgery on July 11, 2025, to address her obesity. At the time of surgery, she reportedly weighed 123 kilograms. Her daughter, Shivani Gupta, who weighed around 120 kg, was also admitted for the same procedure at the same facility. While Shivani’s surgery went smoothly, Rajni began to show signs of severe discomfort soon after her operation.
Her family claimed that she experienced acute abdominal pain immediately after the surgery, but doctors allegedly dismissed it as gas-related discomfort.
On July 13, an abdominal X-ray reportedly revealed a leak near the surgical site. Despite this, her family alleged that timely corrective measures were not taken.
Rajni’s condition deteriorated over the next few days, and she eventually died on July 18.
Family Alleges Medical Negligence
The Gupta family has accused the hospital of negligence and has filed a written complaint at the Medical Police Station. Although an FIR has not yet been registered, the Meerut police have initiated an inquiry. “We admitted both my wife and daughter at the same time. My wife kept saying something is wrong with her stomach. We kept asking the doctor, but no one paid attention,” said Brajmohan Gupta.
The hospital staff allegedly gave painkillers and sedatives without addressing the root cause of the symptoms, according to the complaint.