Medical Negligence: Govt Doctor Operates at Pvt Hospital; Patient Dies

Medical Negligence: The Tragic Tale of Jaswinder Kaur

Fifty-four-year-old Jaswinder Kaur walked into a hospital for what was supposed to be a routine procedure, a minor surgery to remove a cyst. It should have been a quick procedure. Instead, it turned into a devastating tragedy. Jaswinder lost her life on December 17, 2024, in what her daughter, Janakpreet Kaur, has described as a clear case of medical negligence.

The tragedy took a darker turn when details about the surgery came to light. Janakpreet has alleged that the doctor who performed the procedure was a government doctor who had carried out the operation illegally at a private hospital. 

The ordeal of Jaswinder Kaur's family began when she sought treatment at the Una district hospital, a government facility in Himachal Pradesh. A female gynecologist stationed there, allegedly directed Jaswinder to a private hospital for the surgery—a move that has raised eyebrows given her government credentials. In a shocking twist, Dr. Jain herself reportedly performed the procedure at the private hospital, defying medical regulations.

Jaswinder, a resident of Majara village in Punjab, placed her trust in the doctor’s advice, unaware of the irregularities that would follow. This decision, however, marked the beginning of a tragic chain of events that culminated in her untimely death. 

A Daughter’s Agony: “My Mother Was Wronged So Badly”

For Janakpreet Kaur, the daughter of Jaswinder Kaur, the grief is compounded by anger and disbelief. Speaking to The Probe, she described her mother’s death as a gross injustice. “My mother was wronged so badly that she met a horrible end abruptly. I never thought that we would face such trauma,” Janakpreet lamented. Her mother’s tragic end, she alleged, was the result of medical negligence at the hands of Dr. Swinky Jain, the government gynecologist working at the Una district hospital in Himachal Pradesh.

According to Janakpreet, her mother’s condition was far from life-threatening. “My mother didn’t have any major issue,” she said. A series of diagnostic tests, including an ultrasound and MRI, revealed no alarming concerns. The family’s journey for answers eventually led them to Dr. Swinky Jain. “Dr. Swinky Jain told us the problem was not serious, that my mother had a minor cyst, and it could be surgically removed,” Janakpreet recounted.

Despite the reassurances, what was meant to be a simple procedure turned into a tragedy, leaving the family with unanswered questions about the doctor’s role and the choices made during the treatment.

The Private Deal: Surgery Arranged Outside the System

Janakpreet alleged that Dr. Swinky Jain had insisted the surgery be conducted at a private facility, claiming the government hospital in Una lacked the necessary resources. This decision, Janakpreet alleged, was coordinated through WhatsApp conversations between her and the doctor. In messages shared with The Probe, Dr. Jain allegedly responded to queries about the surgery timings. On the night of December 16, 2024, at around 8:02 p.m., Janakpreet asked what time her mother should arrive at the hospital. The doctor allegedly replied, “10.” On the morning of December 17, another message from Janakpreet inquired if they should head directly to the hospital, to which Dr. Jain purportedly replied “yes” at 8:15 a.m.

As the family sought clarity, Dr. Jain allegedly directed them to Grace Megacare Multispeciality Hospital, a private facility in Una. “She gave us the location and told us to admit my mother there on December 17. She said she would complete her government duty and arrive at the private hospital by 4 p.m. to perform the surgery,” Janakpreet recounted.

The doctor’s assurances, Janakpreet explained, played a major role in their decision. “She said the surgery wouldn’t take much time, just five minutes. She also warned us that while the issue was minor now, leaving it untreated could make it cancerous in the future,” Janakpreet added. Dr. Jain allegedly quoted a cost of ₹25,000, claiming it would cover the surgery, medications, and even food for the patient. These promises offered the family a false sense of security, unaware of the tragedy that would soon unfold.

A Routine Surgery Turns Into a Nightmare

On December 17, 2024, Janakpreet accompanied her mother to Grace Megacare Multispeciality Hospital, clutching hope and faith in Dr. Swinky Jain’s assurances. She handed over ₹26,400 in cash, slightly above the quoted amount, before Jaswinder was taken into the operation theatre at 4:10 p.m. Jaswinder walked into the lift with a smile, reassuring her daughter that everything would be fine and that she would return in two hours.

“She was completely fine before the operation,” Janakpreet recalled. “That morning, she completed all the household chores, milked our 25 cows, fed them, and then went to the hospital. Even as she walked into the lift for surgery, she was smiling.” The memory of her mother’s cheerful demeanour was a stark contrast to the chaos that unfolded shortly afterward.

Janakpreet alleges that she was waiting outside the operation theatre (OT) when, at 4:24 p.m., she saw Dr. Swinky Jain rushing into the OT from the lift. What followed was a scene that filled her with dread. “I saw the nurses and staff running in and out of the operation room. I started panicking and begged them to tell me if my mother was safe. They kept saying everything was fine,” Janakpreet said.

As the minutes turned into hours, Janakpreet’s unease grew. “It was supposed to be a five-minute procedure. After an hour and a half, I asked why it was taking so long,” she said. Her fears intensified when her mother was brought out on a stretcher, unconscious and pale. “I asked why she was unconscious, and they told me it was due to medication and that she would wake up in two hours. But I could see something was terribly wrong,” Janakpreet added.

Soon after, Dr. Swinky Jain called Janakpreet into a room and broke the devastating news. “She told me the surgery was unsuccessful and that she had to perform another surgery on my mother,” Janakpreet recalled, her voice filled with anguish.

"I Had to Break Open the Glass Door with My Bare Hands to See My Dead Mother"

Janakpreet’s grief turned into outrage as she recounted the events following her mother’s tragic death. According to her, Dr. Swinky Jain and the hospital staff not only failed in their duty of care but also acted without the family’s consent. “If what the doctor said about the second operation is true, why wasn’t our consent taken? We were kept completely in the dark,” she told The Probe.

The nightmare reached its peak when the family was informed of Jaswinder Kaur’s death. Even then, Janakpreet alleged, the hospital staff locked the room, barring her from seeing her mother. “I had to break open the glass door with my bare hands to see my dead mother,” she said, her voice trembling with anguish. When she confronted Dr. Jain, the response left her stunned. “She told me, ‘What proof do you have that I did the operation? You can do whatever you want; nothing will happen to me.’ I was in complete trauma and shock,” Janakpreet recalled.

Medical Negligence: A Daughter’s Plea for Justice

Despite her grief, Janakpreet has been relentless in her pursuit of justice. She and her family have approached multiple authorities, demanding accountability for what they call the murder of Jaswinder Kaur. “I want the doctors and hospital staff to be held criminally liable for murder. The doctor must get a life sentence for what she did to my mother. If this case doesn’t set a precedent, such fraudulent practices will only continue, and these perpetrators will become habitual offenders,” she said.

On December 18, 2024, an FIR was registered by the Una police based on Janakpreet’s complaint. The charges were filed against Dr. Swinky Jain and others associated with Grace Megacare Multispeciality Hospital. 

Authorities Respond, But Justice Remains Elusive

As the Kaur family continues their quest for justice, authorities have begun to respond to the tragic incident. Rakesh Singh, the Superintendent of Police in Una, confirmed to The Probe that an FIR had been registered under sections related to causing death by negligence. “This is a bailable offense. The investigation is ongoing, and we are looking into the events at both the government and private hospitals. We have also questioned Dr. Swinky Jain in connection with the case,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh Health Secretary suspended Dr. Swinky Jain following the allegations. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Verma, Chief Medical Officer of Una, also confirmed the suspension to The Probe and detailed the steps being taken. “The doctor has been shifted to Shimla and is under suspension, with no authorisation to practice. An inquiry committee has been established by the Directorate to investigate the matter. A Board has been constituted to conduct the post-mortem and provide its report to the police. If medical negligence is confirmed by the Board and the Directorate, further action will follow,” he assured.

For Janakpreet Kaur and her family, these developments are only the beginning. Their fight is not just for accountability in Jaswinder Kaur’s case but to set a precedent that safeguards others from similar tragedies. The family remains steadfast in their belief that justice must not only punish the guilty but also expose the systemic lapses that allowed such medical negligence to occur.