T’puram: K K Harshina, who lived for five years with a surgical artery forceps left inside her abdomen following alleged medical negligence at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH), has been appointed as office assistant at the same facility, under the hospital development society.The appointment order was issued on Monday following a directive by health minister K Muraleedharan. Harshina met him earlier in the day.Harshina also met CM V D Satheesan, who assured her of support for follow-up treatment and compensation for the ordeal she suffered.Harshina said the CM and health minister fulfilled the assurances given to her during her protest in Kozhikode under the previous govt. “I have no words to express my gratitude towards them,” she said.The case dates back to 2017, when Harshina underwent her third caesarean section at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health attached to Kozhikode MCH. A surgical artery forceps was allegedly left inside her abdomen during the procedure. She reportedly suffered severe pain, recurrent infections and other complications for nearly five years, with doctors initially attributing the symptoms to issues related to surgical stitches.In Sept 2022, after seeking treatment at a private hospital, medical examinations and a CT scan revealed the metallic object inside her abdomen. The forceps was subsequently removed through surgery at Kozhikode MCH.
