Quack on the run as botchedsurgery leads to teen’s death

Patna: Police are conducting raids to arrest a quack who allegedly performed a botched gall bladder stone surgery on a teenager by relying on a YouTube video in Saran district on Saturday, leading to his death. The accused has been absconding since the incident.
Fifteen-year-old Krishna Kumar alias Golu, a resident of Bhuwalpur village under Madhaura police station, was taken to a private clinic run by Ajit Kumar Puri on Friday due to stomachache and vomiting, according to family members.Although the boy initially felt better after receiving medication, the quack advised an urgent operation. “In the meantime, the quack asked the boy’s father to go to a local fuel station to bring diesel and began the surgery without our consent while watching a video on his cellphone,” said victim’s maternal grandfather Prahlad Prasad Shah.
As Golu’s condition worsened, Puri arranged an ambulance to transfer him to a Patna hospital, but he died. The accused and hospital staff fled after learning of the death. “We took Golu to Puri after he complained of vomiting, but he was operated upon without our permission. He died because of this,” alleged victim’s father Chandan Saha.
Deputy SP (probationer) Isha Gupta said, “We have launched an investigation into the death and are conducting raids to arrest the absconding quack.”
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for stringent action against quacks damaging the reputation of genuine doctors. “This incident is very unfortunate. The health department must take action against such quacks,” said IMA state secretary Dr Santosh Kumar Singh, urging statewide measures against quacks.
Similar incidents had occurred in the state in the past as well. In 2021, a quack in Muzaffarpur allegedly removed both kidneys of Sunita Devi while treating her for a uterine infection. Also, 26 villagers lost their eyesight after a botched cataract operation at a free health camp organised by a private hospital in the same district. In January 2012, three quacks performed sterilisations on 53 women in Araria district using crude methods and no anaesthesia.