Jharkhand dental clinic sealed after woman dies post tooth extraction; owner absconds

Palamu: A private dental clinic in Hariharganj town, Palamu district, Jharkhand, was sealed following the death of a woman due to a tooth extraction procedure by an alleged quack. The incident has once again raised concerns over unregulated healthcare practices.

The patient, a resident of Kutumba, Bihar, had visited the clinic with her husband for treatment of a cavity and swollen gums. According to Deobrat Poddar, officer in charge of Hariharganj police station, “The woman had a cavity problem and swollen gums,” quoting her husband’s statement. Shortly after the dental procedure, her condition worsened. 

The owner allegedly left the clinic, after which her husband took her to the Hariharganj Community Health Centre, where doctors declared her dead.

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After the deceased's family members filed a written complaint, accusing the doctor of gross negligence, local authorities sealed the private clinic, reports India Today.

Palamu civil surgeon Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava stated that excessive bleeding and shock likely contributed to Bijayanti’s death. Authorities sealed the clinic on Wednesday in the presence of a magistrate.

Speaking to TOI, he added that the clinic was also sealed last year for non-registration under the Clinical Establishments Act. “The dentist had then submitted an affidavit to have a regular and qualified dentist,” said Srivastava. The dentist had even paid a penalty of Rs 5,000 for reopening the clinic. “He, however, seemed to have violated the norms which proved fatal for the patient,” he added. 

This incident highlights a recurring problem in India, where lapses in medical care or unqualified practitioners sometimes lead to fatalities. In a similar case in December 2025, a woman in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, died after a quack attempted a kidney stone surgery while watching a YouTube video. The intoxicated doctor caused extensive internal injuries, ultimately leading to the patient’s death. Legal action was taken against the fake doctor and his associate.

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Medical Dialogues had previously reported that in a shocking incident that had angered local residents, a 38-year-old woman died after two men pretending to be doctors allegedly performed a so-called stone removal surgery on her abdomen by following YouTube tutorial videos.