Doctors in India 'let son, 15, perform surgery'

Officials in southern India are investigating claims that a couple, who are both doctors, let their 15-year-old son perform surgery to get into Guinness World Records as the world's youngest surgeon.

Dr K Murugesan showed a recording of his son, Dhileepan Raj, performing a Caesarean section to an Indian Medical Association (IMA) chapter in Tamil Nadu last month, said Dr Venkatesh Prasad, secretary of the association. The video showed Dr Murugesan anaesthetising the patient. "We were shocked to see the recording," Dr Prasad said, adding that the IMA told Dr Murugesan that his act was an ethical and legal violation.

The baby Dhileepan delivered was born with a noticeable lump on the spinal cord, Dr Prasad said, but added that the birth defect had nothing to do with the surgery having been performed by a teenager.

Dr Murugesan, who owns and runs a maternity hospital in Manaparai, could be prevented from practising and face criminal charges for allowing his son to perform the operation. He expressed no regret last night, and accused the IMA of being "jealous" of his son's achievements.

Dr Prassad said: "Dr Murugesan said this was not the first surgery performed by his son, and he had been training him for the past three years." Dr Murugesan told the medical association that he wanted to see his son's name in GuinnessWorld Records.

The state health secretary, V K Subburaj, said the Indian government was investigating the claims:"It looks like there is a violation. We will take action against the doctors concerned."

The Murugesan family could not be reached for comment.