TN Medical Council suspends Surgeon, Anaesthesiologist for negligence in bariatric surgery

Chennai: After finding two doctors guilty of negligence leading to the death of a patient after bariatric surgery, the Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC) has suspended two doctors for a period of three months, The New Indian Express has reported.

Through its order dated September 18, the Medical Council has suspended the services of surgeon Dr. Perungo and anaesthesiologist Dr. Nesamani.

The Tamil Nadu medical council clarified in the order that during the period of three months' suspension, these doctors would not be allowed to practice medicine in any form in the State.

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As per the latest media report by The New Indian Express, the patient, an IT professional, underwent the bariatric surgery procedure on April 22, 2024, under the care of the surgeon. Initially, he was advised to have the surgery at Rela Hospital, where the cost of the surgery was Rs 9 lakh. Later, he was shifted to BP Jain Hospital, Pallavaram, where the surgery was performed at a reduced cost of Rs 4 lakh.

The inquiry findings of the medical council revealed that senior doctors had not examined the patient before the operation, and only nursing staff handled the pre-surgical care. During the surgery, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest and was shifted to Rela Hospital's ICU; he died the following night.

Consequently, the family of the deceased lodged complaints with Chrompet and Sankar Nagar police station and an inquiry headed by Chengalpattu Deputy Director of Health Services, Theerthalingam, was ordered.

Declaring B P Jain Hospital unfit for high-risk surgeries, the committee faulted the absence of cardiologists, anaesthesiologists, and trained nurses during the operation.

It was confirmed by the experts that the bariatric surgery was elective and that the patient, who had uncontrolled diabetes and obesity, was not given adequate counselling on the risks.

Accordingly, the council concluded that the negligence by Dr Perungo and Dr. Nesamani led to multiple organ failure and death.

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