Pictures allegedly showing a 22-year-old female patient’s face and private parts during a surgery were circulated on WhatsApp groups, prompting authorities to launch a probe into the matter, HT reported. The shocking incident took place at a government-run autonomous state medical college in Kaushambi. Reacting to the incident, a State Women’s Commission member, Pratibha Kushwaha, sought swift police action.
Police Swings Into Action
Termed the matter serious, the Superintendent of Police (SP), Satyanarayan Prajapat, formed a team led by Shivank Singh, deputy superintendent of police (DSP) (Manjhanpur), to probe the matter, assuring that strict action would be taken against those found guilty.
What Hospital Said
Acknowledging the incident, Dr Hariom Kumar Singh, principal, termed it a “major mistake”, assuring disciplinary action against the accused. The preliminary inquiry found that the controversial images of the patient were shared in a WhatsApp group meant for institutional communication with the media, which later circulated to other messaging groups.
Officials said preliminary findings suggest a responsible official allegedly shared the images in a WhatsApp group meant for institutional communication with the media. The photographs reportedly spread further after being shared in another official group linked to the state information department.
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What Is The Entire Matter?
Media reports stated that the woman, who underwent surgery for a Bartholin cyst under the supervision of senior doctors, was admitted to the gynaecology department on April 26.
The matter was brought to the notice of the police after pictures of the face and private parts taken during the surgery were allegedly shared on WhatsApp groups, sparking outrage among people and family members of the patient. As the matter snowballed, people raised serious concerns over privacy violations and medical ethics.
State Women’s Commission Member Writes To Police
Meanwhile, Kushwaha wrote a letter to the police, seeking swift action on the matter. She urged the police to launch a probe and take the culprits to task. Kushwaha questioned how one can use a phone and click a patient in the operating theatre.