Medical Mix-Up: Man operated for gallbladder stones leaves hospital without appendix

In a startling medical mishap, a constable serving with the West Bengal Police, Suman Bera, who was born without a gall bladder, underwent an unintended surgical procedure due to a diagnostic center's incorrect report. The surgeon, relying on the diagnostic report, removed Bera's appendix instead of addressing the presumed gallstone issue. The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) has intervened, instructing the diagnostic center responsible for the mistaken diagnosis to cover the full cost of all the tests.

Suman Bera had been grappling with recurrent episodes of abdominal pain in May. Acting on a doctor's recommendation, Bera, who is affiliated with Raghunathpur PS in Purulia, underwent a comprehensive abdomen ultrasound (USG) at Shushma Diagnostic Centre in the same town. The diagnostic report indicated the presence of a contracted gall bladder containing a stone measuring 14.3 cm. Bera, seeking further confirmation, subsequently visited Careful Diagnostic Centre in Midnapore for a repeat USG.

During the second ultrasound, the radiologist reported that the gall bladder was not visible, prompting Bera to reference the findings from the first diagnostic center. The initial report also noted the existence of a 'contracted' gall bladder, further complicating matters.


On June 13, Suman Bera was admitted to Durga Maternity and Child Care in Midnapore for what should have been gallstone surgery. He reportedly shared his concerns with the surgeon regarding the contradictory gall bladder findings. However, the surgical procedure revealed the absence of a gallbladder, leading to the unintended removal of Bera's appendix. Subsequent testing at Midnapore Medical College confirmed that the patient had a rare condition known as congenital absence of the gallbladder.

WBCERC Chairman, Justice (retd) Ashim Kumar Banerjee, expressed his concern, stating, "Our experts have advised that the prevalence of this condition is approximately one in 10,000. It is perplexing that neither of the two diagnostic centers could identify this, despite the initial center diagnosing a gallstone." As a result, the WBCERC has advised Suman Bera to approach the West Bengal Medical Council to address the surgeon and radiologists involved in this unfortunate medical incident. The diagnostic center has been held accountable for the erroneous diagnosis and has been instructed to reimburse the patient for all incurred expenses.