Ghost Surgery in Hyderabad Hospitals Raises Patient Safety Concerns, Experts seek NMC action

A perspective paper published in the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics has raised concerns about "ghost surgery", in which a surgeon is allegedly replaced by an unauthorised substitute after a patient is placed under anaesthesia. The paper highlights potential vulnerabilities in private healthcare, where commercial pressures and surgeons’ commitments to multiple hospitals may contribute to such practices. Patients may remain unaware of who actually performed their surgery, while hierarchical workplace structures can discourage healthcare workers from reporting suspected cases. Public health commentators have also raised concerns about consent forms that allow surgical teams to operate without clearly identifying the primary surgeon, according to Telangana Today.

To address the issue, the paper recommends that the National Medical Commission prohibit surgeon substitution without specific, reconfirmed patient consent and classify ghost surgery as serious professional misconduct. Consent forms should identify the surgeon responsible for critical stages of an operation. Other proposed measures include digital records identifying everyone involved in surgical procedures, protected anonymous reporting channels for healthcare staff, and mandatory pre-operative briefings confirming the operating surgeon’s identity. These steps could strengthen patient autonomy, transparency and accountability in surgical care.