Meerut, Uttar Pradesh – A 55-year-old woman, Rajni Gupta, died following bariatric (weight-loss) surgery at a private hospital in Meerut, prompting allegations of medical negligence from her family. The incident led to chaos at the hospital on Tuesday, requiring police and health officials to intervene.
Rajni, the wife of businessman Brajmohan Gupta and a resident of Sadar Bazar, was admitted to Nutima Hospital on Garh Road on July 11 to undergo bariatric surgery. According to her family, she had been influenced by a social media advertisement promoting the procedure.
Her son, Shubham Gupta, said that his mother weighed 123 kg at the time of surgery and had opted for the operation under bariatric surgeon Dr. Rishi Singhal. Her daughter Shivani, also weighing around 120 kg, had been admitted for the same procedure.
The family alleges that Dr. Singhal promised a weight loss of 30 kg within 24 hours. While Shivani’s surgery was reportedly successful, Rajni died after experiencing complications.
They claim Rajni began suffering from severe abdominal pain the day after surgery, which was allegedly dismissed by doctors. On July 13, an X-ray reportedly showed an abdominal leak, believed to have occurred during surgery and led to a serious infection. She died on Tuesday, allegedly due to lack of timely medical care.
Rajni’s husband has filed a complaint at the Medical Police Station, accusing the hospital and doctor of gross negligence. However, no FIR has been registered so far.
“The complaint has been forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer, and further action will depend on the investigation report,” said SHO Shilesh Kumar.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ashok Kumar Kataria told PTI that he had not yet received the complaint but would take action once it arrives.
Doctor Denies Allegations
Responding to the charges, Dr. Rishi Singhal denied any negligence. Speaking to PTI, he said Rajni and her daughter had attended a patient event on December 15, 2024, where they saw the results of over 150 of his former patients.
“Impressed by the results, they approached me on July 8 for surgery, as their family business was temporarily shut during the Kanwar Yatra,” he said.
Dr. Singhal stated that he warned them the surgery could not be rushed and required proper testing. Shivani reportedly returned with test results the next day, and Rajni’s surgery was scheduled for July 11, while Shivani’s was booked for July 14.
“Rajni had multiple pre-existing conditions — diabetes, hypertension, thyroid issues, fatty liver, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and cardiac concerns,” he said, adding that both were informed about the risks involved.
According to the doctor, both patients were stable until the evening of July 13, when Rajni began to feel unwell.
“She was immediately shifted to the ICU,” he said, claiming that a team of doctors attempted to treat her but she died of a heart attack despite all efforts.
Doctors named in the treatment team include Vishwajeet Bembi, Vishal Saxena, Avneet Rana, Mitul Jain, Hariraj Tomar, and Sandeep Garg.
As investigations continue, the case has raised serious concerns about private hospital accountability, the safety of bariatric surgery, and the influence of advertising on medical decisions.