India, April 2 -- A two-member inquiry committee has submitted its report to the deputy director of health services, Pune, in the case of a child allegedly operated on the wrong hand at a sub-district hospital in Pandharpur. However, action against the doctors is likely to be deferred to avoid disruption of surgical services, officials said.

A six-year-old boy with bilateral postaxial polydactyly (extra little fingers on both hands) was admitted on March 27. He had complained of pain, clumsiness and difficulty in using a finger on his right hand, and was advised surgery on that finger. However, the operating doctor mistakenly performed the procedure on the left hand, amputating the wrong finger.

Following the incident, the health depart...