A 25-year-old pregnant woman, Swati Devi, allegedly died in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district after an “unqualified” practitioner allegedly performed a surgical procedure while following instructions from YouTube videos, News18 reported.
The incident occurred at a private clinic in the Kahalgaon area, where the woman was admitted for childbirth. While the mother allegedly lost her life due to the botched operation and subsequent delay in treatment, the newborn baby fortunately survived.
The family has accused the practitioner of gross negligence, leading to a police investigation, while the accused has since fled the scene.
Medical Negligence
The tragedy unfolded when Savita Devi was taken to a local private nursing home after experiencing labor pains. Instead of being treated by a qualified obstetrician, she was attended to by a man posing as a doctor.
Family members allege that the individual lacked basic medical knowledge and appeared visibly confused during the process.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks associated with unregulated medical facilities that prey on the lack of awareness in rural pockets of India.
YouTube-Guided Surgery
In a shocking revelation, the victim’s relatives claimed the practitioner was constantly looking at his mobile phone for guidance.
He reportedly attempted to perform a complex surgical procedure by watching step-by-step tutorials on YouTube. As the surgery progressed, Swati’s condition started to deteriorate rapidly due to excessive bleeding and internal complications.
The family’s accounts suggest that the practitioner was more focused on the digital screen than the patient’s vitals, leading to a complete failure of medical protocol and human ethics.
The ‘doctor’, when the patient died, allegedly told her family to take her to another hospital citing her critical condition. The doctor and his assistant then shut the clinic and fled the scene.
Police Action
Following the outrage, local police arrived at the clinic, but the accused and his staff had already locked the premises and disappeared. Law enforcement officials have registered an FIR based on the complaint filed by the victim’s husband.
The health department has also been notified to verify the clinic’s license, which is suspected to be fraudulent.
Crisis Of Fake Doctors
This specific tragedy follows a pattern of similar horrors in the region, where “jholachaap” or fake doctors operate without valid medical licenses.
In many remote areas, the lack of accessible and affordable government healthcare facilities forces families to rely on these self-proclaimed experts.
The absence of strict monitoring by the district administration has allowed such unauthorised nursing homes to flourish. This incident highlights a systemic failure where digital tutorials are being substituted for years of rigorous medical training and clinical experience.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This heart-breaking incident is not just a case of medical failure but a systemic collapse of trust and safety. No human life should be subjected to the trial-and-error whims of an unqualified individual, especially when assisted only by an internet video.
At The Logical Indian, we believe that healthcare is a fundamental right that must be guarded by competence and empathy. We urge the Bihar government to conduct a state-wide crackdown on these illegal clinics.
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