Delhi's Fortis Hospital sacks 5 for operating on wrong foot, police file case

Delhi's Fortis Hospital sacked five of its staff members on Wednesday after it was learned that they operated on the wrong leg of an injured chartered accountant on Tuesday.

The patient, Ravi Rai, had broken his right leg after falling down a staircase on Sunday, and had been admitted to Fortis Hospital. However, on Tuesday, when a surgical procedure was required to hold his ankle with screws, the operating team did the procedure on his left leg.

Rai's family has filed a complaint of criminal negligence with the police, says the Hindustan Times. The police have registered a case under sections 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC against the operating team.

Rai's father, Ram Karan, said: "When they brought him out of surgery, we noticed they had operated on his left leg. His right leg was untouched."

He added: "When we questioned the doctors, they said there was no problem... they would simply perform another surgery to remove the screws from the left ankle and put them in the right one."

Ram Karan accused the hospital of criminal negligence and apathy. He said: "Several tests were conducted before the surgery, and they had even marked his right ankle with a marker. What made them operate on the wrong ankle then?"

In a statement, Fortis said that it had set up a committee to investigate the incident immediately after the surgery.

The hospital said: "The operating team may have disregarded and sidestepped due processes... As this is a zero-tolerance area for us, the services of five erring doctors and operation room personnel have been dispensed forthwith. Action is also being contemplated against others, pending inquiry."