Doctor couple let teen son play surgeon

A doctor-couple in Tiruchy allow their 15-year-old son to a perform a caesarean operation on a 20-year-old woman, reports GC Shekhar.

Some parents have enormous faith in their children’s abilities. A doctor-couple from Manaparai town in Tiruchy thought so highly of their 15-year-old son they recently allowed him to a perform a caesarean operation.

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Dhileepan Raj, a Class X student, carried out the surgery on a 20-year-old under the supervision of his parents — father Dr K Murugesan, a general surgeon, and mother Dr M Gandhimathay, an obstetrician — at the Mathi Surgical and Maternity Hospital in Manaparai in April. At a meeting of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Manaparai on May 6, Murugesan himself dwelt at length on his son’s feat, which he called a world record. The proud father even played a video-recording of the operation to back up his claim.

“If a 10-year-old can drive a car and a 15-year-old can become a doctor in the US, what is wrong if my son, though not qualified, performs a surgery?” Murugesan is said to have shot back when other doctors strongly criticised him for allowing an unqualified youngster to perform a surgery.

On May 11, the IMA’s Manaparai branch passed a resolution seeking action against the parents. Then, its Tamil Nadu branch issued a notice to Murugesan. Changing his story, Murgesan said he performed the surgery, while his son only looked on.

Dr N. Mohandas, president, Tamil Nadu unit of the IMA, told HT: “We’ve recommended to the Tamil Nadu Medical Council to take suitable action against Dr Murugesan, including debarring him from the profession.”

Murugesan was unreachable.