A doctor in Kerala’s Kannur has been booked for alleged medical negligence, a charge the hospital denies

The Kannur city police have registered a case against a doctor at KIMS Sreechand Hospital after a patient alleged that she was discharged without removing a fish bone lodged in her throat, resulting in prolonged pain and further surgery.

A case was registered against Dr. Gaurav Baber, 35, on a complaint by PV Savithri, a resident of Echikkovil, Pilicode, in Kasaragod district.

In the complaint, Ms. Savithri said she was admitted to the hospital after a fish bone stuck in her throat. After the endoscopic procedure, the doctors told her that the bone had been removed and that she was discharged. However, the pain in the throat persisted. Further treatment and a CT scan at Pariyaram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) revealed that another fish bone remained lodged in her neck. The retained bone was later surgically removed in hospital.

Police said the case was registered after a preliminary investigation into a complaint filed by Ms. Savithiri with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kannur, alleging medical negligence and physical suffering caused by the treatment.

Responding to the allegations, KIMS Sreechand Hospital authorities have denied any medical negligence and said the incident took place in February this year. According to the hospital, the patient underwent an endoscopic herringbone removal after an X-ray identified a foreign body in her throat.

The hospital said the attending gastroenterologist recommended a post-procedure CT scan as per standard protocol to confirm no further foreign body remained in the patient’s throat. However, the patient allegedly refused to undergo the examination citing financial constraints and discharged herself against the doctor’s advice. She was also asked to come back for a check-up after two days.

Instead, the patient later sought treatment at the Kannur Government MCH, where a CT scan reportedly detected another fish bone, which was subsequently removed, hospital administrator Muhammed Nabeel said.

KIMS Hospital claimed that no surgery was performed at the hospital, contrary to the complaint, and only an endoscopic procedure was performed. The hospital said all procedures and medical records were fully documented and that it was cooperating with the police investigation.

According to the hospital, the police have already heard the doctor’s explanation during the preliminary investigation and the management believes that the case is baseless. She claimed the complaint was aimed at tarnishing the hospital’s reputation.

Published – 22 July 2026 22:00 IST