In a shocking incident in Kerala's Alappuzha district, a woman named Usha Joseph found a surgical instrument, an artery forceps, lodged inside her abdomen five years after undergoing surgery. The surgery, which was performed in May 2021 at Alappuzha Medical College to remove uterine fibroids, left Usha experiencing persistent abdominal pain, which her family reported to the doctors numerous times without a clear diagnosis. Her son, Shibin, claimed that after multiple consultations, the cause of his mother's discomfort went unexplained until an x-ray was conducted under suspicion of kidney stones that unveiled the presence of the artery forceps.

Following the discovery of the surgical instrument in her abdomen, doctors recommended that Usha should undergo another operation to remove it. Subsequently, Usha was transferred to a private hospital in Kochi for the procedure. This incident raises significant questions about surgical procedures and the importance of post-operative care and follow-up, as such negligence can lead to serious health complications. The case has sparked outrage and demands for accountability from the medical professionals involved, as it highlights a critical issue of patient safety in surgical practices.

This revelation not only underscores the need for stringent checks and balances in medical procedures but also emphasizes the importance of patient advocacy and the need for patients and their families to remain vigilant about unexplained symptoms even after major surgeries.