‘They left a piece of gauze inside me’
City-based artist starts online petition alleging negligence by fertility clinic
A young city-based painter has started an online petition alleging the physical and mental trauma that she had to gothrough after a fertility clinic left a piece of gauze inside her vagina during an infertility test.
The woman, whose petition has gone viral is Sandhya Vaidyanathan (29), who is married to marketing professional, Vaidyanathan Venkataraman, since 2009.
Sandhya who was born and brought up in Dubai, but settled in BTM Layout, said, “I first conceived in 2010 but miscarried. After that I took a break for six months but after consultation with several doctors, it was revealed that I had polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD). After consultation with our family gynaecologist, Dr Suman Singh of Manasi Clinic in the locality, we were advised to undergo a procedure called hysterosalpingography (HSG) at Sure Fertility Clinic (a subsidiary of Cloudnine Hospitals) in J P Nagar.”
This is a routine procedure to investigate the shape of the uterine cavity and the patency of the fallopian tubes. This is done under local anesthesia. “At Sure, I was under the treatment of Dr Uma Maheshwari, who did not meet me before the procedure in spite of repeated requests. She came just when the procedure started. It lasted for about 45 minutes and I was discharged after two hours. I was not given any medication or antibiotics. I had a little blood discharge but was told it was normal. After resting for three days, there was a foul smell and the discharge was longer than expected. I then went to Dr Singh for a follow-up and she put me on antibiotics.”
Several doctors told us that it was because of the gauze and there was no other option but to operate. When I was operated, it was revealed that I had hematosalpinx (bleeding in the fallopian tube). All this was because of the infection caused by the gauze.”
Following this, she went through a series of operations that included the clipping of the fallopian tube and treatment of a hemorrhagic cyst. “I underwent three surgeries that ended up in the removal of the left fallopian tube and ovary in January this year. Because of the massive infection, Dr Narayanan of Shanti Hospital & Research Centre, Jayanagar, who operated on me for the massive cyst, felt that the right tube may not be healthy and I may not be able to conceive,” she said.
Vaidyanathan said she kept quiet for so long because it took her time to get over the mental trauma. When Mirror contacted Dr Uma Maheshwari, she said, “Everything needs to be done as per protocol. I cannot comment until she brings evidence and everything is done according to a proper channel.” Dr Kishore Kumar, chairman and MD, Cloudnine Hospital, said, “I am currently travelling with limited access to email. Hence my reply may be delayed.”
Dr Singh, who treated her first, denied any negligence on her part and said, “The treatment was done after taking a prior consent from the patient and she was aware of the consequences. She has to go through a proper channel like the Medical Council, rather than defaming us on social media.”
Cloud nine reacts
A Cloud Nine spokesperson said, “We have made a note of the complaint filed by Sandhya Vaidyanathan, who had come to us only for the HSG test which is a procedure and not surgical. We are currently reviewing the situation internally, checking our records and collecting other necessary background information. None of the other surgeries have happened at our entities.”
A young city-based painter has started an online petition alleging the physical and mental trauma that she had to gothrough after a fertility clinic left a piece of gauze inside her vagina during an infertility test.
The woman, whose petition has gone viral is Sandhya Vaidyanathan (29), who is married to marketing professional, Vaidyanathan Venkataraman, since 2009.
Sandhya who was born and brought up in Dubai, but settled in BTM Layout, said, “I first conceived in 2010 but miscarried. After that I took a break for six months but after consultation with several doctors, it was revealed that I had polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD). After consultation with our family gynaecologist, Dr Suman Singh of Manasi Clinic in the locality, we were advised to undergo a procedure called hysterosalpingography (HSG) at Sure Fertility Clinic (a subsidiary of Cloudnine Hospitals) in J P Nagar.”
This is a routine procedure to investigate the shape of the uterine cavity and the patency of the fallopian tubes. This is done under local anesthesia. “At Sure, I was under the treatment of Dr Uma Maheshwari, who did not meet me before the procedure in spite of repeated requests. She came just when the procedure started. It lasted for about 45 minutes and I was discharged after two hours. I was not given any medication or antibiotics. I had a little blood discharge but was told it was normal. After resting for three days, there was a foul smell and the discharge was longer than expected. I then went to Dr Singh for a follow-up and she put me on antibiotics.”
On July 3, 2013, only when she woke up to an uneasy feeling and abdominal pain, she realised that there was something unusual. “When I inserted my finger in the vagina, to my shock and surprise and utter disgust, I pulled out gauze with foul smell, pus and blood. When I rushed to the clinic, its director Dr Rita Billiangady underplayed the situation and said that whatever goes in will eventually come out. They refunded the amount of the procedure, but my trauma started five months later. While going in for routine scans for fertility treatments, it was revealed that there was a massive infection in my left tube.
Several doctors told us that it was because of the gauze and there was no other option but to operate. When I was operated, it was revealed that I had hematosalpinx (bleeding in the fallopian tube). All this was because of the infection caused by the gauze.”
Following this, she went through a series of operations that included the clipping of the fallopian tube and treatment of a hemorrhagic cyst. “I underwent three surgeries that ended up in the removal of the left fallopian tube and ovary in January this year. Because of the massive infection, Dr Narayanan of Shanti Hospital & Research Centre, Jayanagar, who operated on me for the massive cyst, felt that the right tube may not be healthy and I may not be able to conceive,” she said.
Vaidyanathan said she kept quiet for so long because it took her time to get over the mental trauma. When Mirror contacted Dr Uma Maheshwari, she said, “Everything needs to be done as per protocol. I cannot comment until she brings evidence and everything is done according to a proper channel.” Dr Kishore Kumar, chairman and MD, Cloudnine Hospital, said, “I am currently travelling with limited access to email. Hence my reply may be delayed.”
Dr Singh, who treated her first, denied any negligence on her part and said, “The treatment was done after taking a prior consent from the patient and she was aware of the consequences. She has to go through a proper channel like the Medical Council, rather than defaming us on social media.”
Cloud nine reacts
A Cloud Nine spokesperson said, “We have made a note of the complaint filed by Sandhya Vaidyanathan, who had come to us only for the HSG test which is a procedure and not surgical. We are currently reviewing the situation internally, checking our records and collecting other necessary background information. None of the other surgeries have happened at our entities.”
