Clean Chit for Sahyadri Hospital in Pune Couple’s Liver Transplant Tragedy; Liver Surgeries Resume
Clean Chit for Sahyadri Hospital in Pune Couple’s Liver Transplant Tragedy; Liver Surgeries Resume
Sahyadri Hospital has been officially cleared of any wrongdoing in the case of a Pune couple who died following a liver transplant. A high-level committee from the Health Department investigated the matter and concluded that there were no errors in the treatment provided to either the donor or the recipient. Following this, the Health Director has lifted the suspension on liver transplant procedures at the hospital, effective Thursday, November 27.
The tragedy occurred in August, when 49-year-old Bapu Komkar passed away on August 15 after undergoing a liver transplant at Sahyadri Hospital’s Deccan branch. His wife, Kamini Komkar, who donated her liver, died on August 21. The couple’s relatives had accused the hospital of negligence, prompting the Health Department to form an eight-member expert committee to examine the case.
The committee, led by renowned liver transplant specialist Dr. Mohammed Rela, submitted its findings to the Health Department last month.
“Based on the findings presented by the inquiry committee, an 18-member State Advisory Committee led by the Health Secretary convened on November 6. It was subsequently decided to lift the suspension on liver transplant surgeries at Sahyadri Hospital from November 27,” stated a Public Health Department official.
Providing further clarity, Dr. Bhagwan Pawar, Deputy Director of Health Department, Pune, said, “A Pune-based couple died at Sahyadri Hospital after a liver transplant. The inquiry committee had submitted a report in this matter. The report has stated that there was no error in the treatment of these patients.”
After the deaths, the Komkar family filed a complaint at Deccan Police Station. The police had initially approached Sassoon Hospital in September to request an inquiry, but the hospital declined due to the absence of a gastroenterologist and liver surgeon. Consequently, the case was sent to J. J. Hospital in Mumbai, where a committee is currently investigating the matter for any potential medical negligence.
