Lucknow — A routine medical procedure in a private hospital has escalated into a criminal investigation after allegations of grave surgical negligence surfaced against doctors at Shalini Hospital, situated on Sitapur Road. Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the hospital management and two doctors following a court order, after a patient’s family claimed that her uterus was wrongly removed and later discarded improperly.
The case was initiated by Amarjeet Gautam, a resident of Semra Godhi in Lucknow’s Madiyaon area, who brought his mother to Shalini Hospital in October 2023 for treatment. According to the complaint, doctors initially diagnosed complications in the uterus and recommended removal. The operation, performed on October 20 by two attending physicians, allegedly deviated from the original plan. While the family was told that the uterus would be removed vaginally, surgeons reportedly opted for an abdominal incision instead.
FutureCrime Summit 2026: Registrations to Open Soon for India’s Biggest Cybercrime Conference
Allegations of Improper Handling and Aftermath
The complaint states that the hospital charged ₹60,000 for the procedure but failed to provide discharge papers detailing the treatment. More strikingly, the removed uterus was allegedly discarded in waste rather than sent to a laboratory for histopathological examination, a standard medical protocol intended to detect possible underlying conditions.
In the days following the surgery, the patient’s health reportedly deteriorated, with swelling and urinary complications. Subsequent consultations with outside doctors revealed further issues, including ureteral damage and complications categorized as third-grade cystocele. She was later re-operated at a different facility, where the alleged negligence became evident.
The incident prompted the Chief Medical Officer’s office to suspend Shalini Hospital’s operations pending inquiry. Now, following a magistrate’s directive, police have formally booked the hospital’s management and named doctors involved in the surgery, including Dr. Shikha and Dr. Rituja.
Legal and Institutional Implications
The case has drawn attention not only for its medical aspects but also for regulatory oversight. While complaints of surgical malpractice are not uncommon, criminal proceedings of this nature highlight growing concerns over accountability in private healthcare. For the family, the ordeal has stretched from financial burdens to prolonged medical distress. For authorities, it has raised pressing questions on hospital practices, medical record-keeping, and compliance with legal standards in patient care.
As the investigation progresses, the case may serve as a test of how Indian courts and regulators handle the intersection of medical negligence and criminal liability in an already strained healthcare system.
