P. N. Kumuduni, a patient at Jayawardenapura Hospital who had traveled back from Dubai for treatment, is struggling for her life in an unsettling episode after both of her kidneys were removed without an immediate need for a transplant. Despite her chronic illness, Kumuduni, who has genetic polycystic kidney disease, was allegedly filtering 1.5 liters of pee per day. Medical professionals confirmed that her condition was not life-threatening.
In spite of this, on March 4 the kidney doctor in charge of her case advised removing both kidneys in preparation for a transplant that would take place in six weeks. The surgery was all set to go, and Kumuduni’s sister had consented to give a kidney. But a week later, the transplant was postponed due to a hospital worker strike. Citing challenges in collaborating with colleagues, the supervising specialist declined to proceed with the procedure.
Kumuduni’s decision to have her kidneys removed has caused uproar because she is now dependent on pricey monthly blood filtration treatments that cost approximately 100,000 rupees. Medical experts believe that she could have survived without requiring emergency surgery because non-functioning kidneys can be supported by contemporary blood filtration techniques. Moreover, the fact that she had to have both kidneys removed before receiving a transplant has put her in a dangerous position.
The doctor is reported to have neglected kidney transplant surgeries at the hospital for more than six months, which adds to the controversy. Patients allege he has been sending them to a Thalawathugoda private clinic, which charges much more for procedures that might have been done in the hospital for a far lower price.
The hospital administration suspended the specialist and opened an investigation in response to Kumuduni’s concerns. Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma, the chairman of Jayawardenapura Hospital, has affirmed that an unbiased inquiry is in progress to determine the full scope of the purported misbehavior and to guarantee responsibility.