MUMBAI, July 31: What was meant to be a simple ear operation has turned life into a silent nightmare for a patient of LTMG hospital. He has been declared ``profoundly deaf'' by the very doctor who performed the operation.

Jitendra Khandagale (26) underwent a radical mastoidectomy on his left ear and lost all hearing four days after he was operated upon by Dr Renuka Bradoo, head of the ear nose and throat (ENT) department at Sion hospital on April 2.

What compounded Khandagale's loss was that his right ear was already dysfunctional. It was operated upon last year. The `uncaring attitude of the doctors' has now confined him to virtual deafness.

Khandagale said his hearing was normal for three days after the operation, but on the fourth day it suddenly dropped and despite his deteriorating condition he was discharged on the seventh day as per rules.

``The resident doctor said that the hearing loss may be due to the presence of cotton in the ear and asked me to come to the OPD a week later,'' a distressed Khandagale told Express Newsline. When he visited he was informed that the audiograph machine was out of order and was asked to come over the following week.

``During this visit, I met Dr Bradoo at the OPD. When I apprised her of my condition she said she should have been informed immediately as there was nothing she could do now. However, she asked me to get re-admitted the following week. Being admitted did not help. I was discharged but not before I was asked to do a brain scan from a private centre.''

The scan revealed no intra-cranial abnormality. ``Why was I asked to get the scanning done privately when the hospital itself has a machine,'' wondered Khandagale. His mother said she had to sell a gold ring to pay for the scanning.

Khandagale, a resident of Kalyan, is the sole earning member of his family. He worked as a technical supervsior till rendered jobless due to his hearing loss. Dr Bradoo had assured of a suitable job and a hearing aid.

``I have been visiting the hospital for the past three months now and all I receive is assurances of a job, with no treatment forthcoming,'' said Khandagale. He has filed a complaint with the Matunga police against the doctor.

``I met the dean of the hospital on July 21. He assured help but only after making me write that it was not the doctor's fault. Four days later, he asked me to drop the police case or let the police investigations take its own course,'' Khandagale said.

Meanwhile, he got treated at a private hospital in Dombivli from June 4 and has recovered 10 per cent of his hearing.

The Dean, Dr H K Shirahhati, admitted it was one of the simplest ear operations normally done by the resident doctors. ``Because it was to be performed on a precious ear (the left being the only good one) the ENT head of department herself did it. ``It is a hell of a tragic case but nothing could have been done. There was a benign tumour in the middle ear and infection could have caused the deafness,'' he said and offered sponsor a hearing aid costing Rs 26,000, but only if the police case against the doctor is dropped.

Dr Bradoo could not be contacted. The dean however agrees that with a hearing aid the patient's hearing will improve. The question is when and who will buy it. With the family's funds fast depleting, father recently operated for a cataract, mother in debt due to `a hearing aid' and his own future having suddenly turned bleak, Jitendra is losing energy `fighting for justice'.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.