Woman loses uterus to untrained 'doctor'

The unqualified daughter-in-law of a prominent doctor allegedly carried out a medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) at her father-in-law’s hospital, reports Pradeep Saxena.

The unqualified daughter-in-law of a prominent doctor allegedly carried out a medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) at her father-in-law’s hospital. She botched it up so badly that the patient’s uterus had to be removed.

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On July 9, Methlesh Verma, daughter-in-law of Dr G.S. Verma, who owns Saraswati Hospital and Maternity Centre, operated on Lata, whose 5-month-old baby had died in the womb. The operation went awry and Lata began bleeding profusely.

Her husband then shifted her to another nursing home where an examination showed her uterus had been torn open and would have to be removed. Another operation was carried out. “My wife was having severe pains,” said Dinesh Kumar, her husband. “I was told Methlesh was a gynaecologist and she would do the operation.”

Following Kumar’s complaint, an enquiry conducted by Dr R.C. Chadha, chief medical officer, Aligarh, showed Methlesh had no medical degree, and was in fact a schoolteacher. “The hospital is not even registered for performing MTPs,” said Dr Chadha Methlesh is absconding. Dr Verma has been arrested and the hospital has been sealed.