He had not served his full term but the Government released him suddenly and sent him to a hospital where he was operated on for appendicitis. When he was lying in the Hospital at Poona, convalescing after his appendicitis operation, the news of his release was communicated to him. He said "he did not know what to do."
When Gandhi was operated upon for appendicitis by Lt. Col. Maddock at Poona in the Sassoon Hospital he was then a prisoner. The event shook the whole nation, and drove the people to silent prayer. The operation lasted one hour. When it was half way through, the electric lights failed. The operation thereafter was made with the help of an electric torch.
Col. Maddock the Surgeon wrote: "While in hospital, Gandhi endeared himself to all those who came in contact with him on account of his unfailing courtesy and patience, his wonderful cheerfulness, thoughtfulness for others and complete forgetfulness of himself."
One of the hospital nurses said: "My friends were chaffing me for getting fond of Mr. Gandhi. I told them they would do the same if they had the privilege of serving him. The surgeon's love for him is as undisguised as the nurses." The Col. Maddock was the first man to break the news to Gandhi that he was free for he had received an urgent message during the night stating that Gandhi's sentence had been suspended.
In reply, Gandhi wrote: "I am sorry Government have prematurely released me on account of my illness; such a release can bring me no joy, for I hold that illness of a prisoner affords no ground for his release. I would be guilty of ungratefulness if I did not tell you and through you to the whole public that both the jail and the hospital authorities have given all attention during my illness. Col. Maddock and his staff have treated me with the utmost attention and kindness, I may not omit the nurses who have surrounded me with sisterly care. Though it is now open to me to leave the hospital, knowing I can get no better treatment elsewhere, with Col. Maddock's kind permission, I have decided to remain under his care till the wound is healed."