VIJAYAWADA: In a shocking case of medical malfeasance, a faulty operation done at Manipal Hospital for back and neck pain resulted in the patient M. Srinivasa Rao being bedridden for the last three years. He is the sole breadwinner of his family. Mr Srinivasa Rao, a resident of Governorpet, Vijayawada, went to see Dr A. Suryanarayana, an orthopaedic surgeon, for his neck and back pain.
Dr Suryanarayana said a surgical procedure was required and he would arrange for it at Manipal Hospital under Arogyasri. He was operated upon in February 2014. The result was that Mr Srinivasa Rao was completely paralysed after the operation. Later it was found that a surgery that had to be performed by a neurosurgeon was done by an orthopaedic surgeon. When the family complained to the Chief Minister, the department of medical and health ordered an inquiry.
DMHO Guntur, T. Padmaja Rani, who conducted the inquiry, found fault with Dr Suryanarayana and Manipal Hospital. She found that to get pre-authorisation under Arogyasree, the operation was listed under the name of neurosurgeon V. Ravikanth instead of Dr A Suryanarayana, who is an orthopaedic surgeon. Had it been listed under the name of Dr Suryanarayana, the pre-authorisation would not have been given as the operation, ‘Corporectomy C spinal fixation’, has to be done by a neurosurgeon, she observed.
