Published Feb 21, 2026 | 3:47 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 21, 2026 | 3:47 PM
Veena George blames LoP Satheesan. (File photos)
Synopsis: Veena George rejected the allegations, saying the lapse occurred years before her tenure and accused the Opposition of politicising the incident. She alleged that the protests were carried out at the direction of Opposition Leader V.D Satheesan and described the action at her residence as an “attack”.
The medical negligence case has escalated into a political flashpoint in Kerala, triggering protests and sharp exchanges between the LDF and the Congress. The issue surfaced after police booked a retired doctor in connection with a surgical scissors found inside the abdomen of Usha, who had undergone surgery at Alappuzha Medical College five years ago.
Earlier on Saturday, 21 February, a major security lapse occurred at the official residence of Health Minister Veena George in Thiruvananthapuram, when Youth Congress activists entered the premises and placed a wreath at the door, and demanded her resignation.
George rejected the allegations, saying the lapse occurred years before her tenure and accused the Opposition of politicising the incident. She alleged that the protests were carried out at the direction of Opposition Leader V.D Satheesan and described the action at her residence as an “attack”.
Police said only three guards were on duty when protesters arrived. The CPM condemned the protest, calling it undemocratic and disrespectful and urged the Youth Congress to apologise. Other ministers also criticised the move, while maintaining that any shortcomings in the health sector should be debated through democratic means.
The Ambalappuzha Police have registered a case against retired surgeon Dr. Lalithambika Karunakaran for alleged medical negligence after a surgical instrument was reportedly left inside a patient’s abdomen. The FIR was filed based on a complaint by Usha Joseph’s sister-in-law, Margaret.
According to the complaint Usha underwent surgery on May 5, 2021 to remove a uterine tumour at the hospital.
The complainant claimed that the procedure under Dr. Lalithambika’s supervision was conducted negligently putting Usha’s life at risk. She reportedly suffered abdominal pain and bleeding after the surgery, allegedly due to a surgical instrument left inside her body.
Later on Friday, senior congress leader Ramesh Chennithala visited Usha, recovering at Kochi Amrita Hospital. The instrument has been successfully removed, and her condition is stable.
Chennithala expressed concern over the incident and assured Usha and her family of full support, including help with medical and legal matters.
The case has been registered under Sections 125 and 125(a) of the BNS 2023 with DySP Rajesh K.N assigned to investigate.
Dr. Lalithambika has denied personally performing the operation stating that her name appeared in records only as the unit chief. She clarified that the instrument seen in the X-ray was a small mosquito forceps, attributing the incident to a system failure while acknowledging that no instrument should remain in a patient’s body and surgical tools must always be counted before and after procedures.
She also noted that Usha had undergone a prior surgery at the hospital suggesting the instrument may have been left during the earlier operation.
An expert committee confirmed that the patient had surgeries at the hospital in both 2007 and 2021.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman )
