One of the doctors had an MBBS from China.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
A bitched hair transplant surgery carried out by two unqualified doctors has caused the death of a final year medical student in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Santosh Kumar, an MBBS student of the Madras Medical College, died one day after the surgery conducted at a salon in Nungambakkam, Chennai, reported The Times of India.
The issue came to light when some friends of Santhosh Kumar approached the state health department seeking strict action against the doctors. The family of the deceased refused to file a complaint with the police as they wanted a peaceful cremation.
The surgery was done by Dr. Hariprasad Kasturi, an anesthetist, and Dr. A Vineeth Suryakumar, an MBBS who graduated from a college in China and it was done at a salon that didn’t have the permission for transplant. The state medical council has issued a notice to both asking explanation from them for conducting the transplantation without having the necessary qualification.
“We have issued notices to them. We have asked Dr. Hariprasad why he did not stay in the salon till the procedure was completed. We have asked Dr. Vineeth how he performed the surgery without being qualified. Hair transplant is a surgery and Vineeth is not a surgeon,” Tamil Nadu Medical Council president Dr. K Senthil was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
The cause of death is supposed to be an allergy caused by anesthesia. The authorities have sealed the salon.
The transplantation was done on May 17 at the salon. According to medical procedures, an anesthetist must be present throughout the surgery. But Dr. Hariprasad left the salon during the procedure.
Soon after the surgery, Santhosh Kumar showed signs of discomfort and he was taken to a private hospital where Dr. Hariprasad worked. He went home after taking first aid.
He died at Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, next day after his family admitted him to the hospital when his condition worsened.
“Hospital reports said that he died soon after admission due to multi-organ failure triggered by delayed anaphylaxis and toxic syndrome,” said Dr. Senthil.
Santosh’s parents Josebeen and Pandiaraj have requested the authorities to take strong action against the accused.
“I want strict action against the person who conducted the surgery and who administered the anesthesia, Hariprasad. I want all other centers like this shut, so nothing else happens with another person. These men are solely responsible for my son’s death,” Santosh’s father Pandiaraj told The News Minute.
Kumar is the only son of Josebeen and Pandiaraj. He was born 20 years after their marriage.