TN docs do 14 surgeries in 3.5 hrs to 'claim' record

CHENNAI/MADURAI: In a development that has shocked the medical fraternity, doctors at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai said they
performed 14 breast cancer surgeries in three-and-a-half hours this week for an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. The hospital claimed that the "feat" was videotaped and sent to the Guinness authorities through the state government.

The state health department condemned the move and said no permission was given for such an exercise. It has now ordered an inquiry into the incident by the state’s director of medical education, Dr S Vinayagam. "We do not approve of it and we have not sent it to any agency for recognition. Safety is our prime concern and we condemn anything that can risk a patient’s life," said health secretary VK Subburaj.

Rajaji hospital’s head of oncology, Dr BKCR Mohan Prasad, held a press conference on Thursday to announce that an in-house team of three doctors including himself, chief anaesthetist Dr R Chandrasekhar and surgeon Dr Gopinath had achieved the "feat" by operating non-stop on patients from 8.30am to noon on August 24. Hospital dean Dr SM Sivakumar added that "non-stop lumpectomy on 14 women is a proof of the facilities available in the hospital".

"We opened four patients at one go. I would open the breast, remove the tumour and nodes and move on to the next patient. My assistant and a post-graduate student would close the wound. When I moved to the fourth patient, the first was ready to be sent to the recovery room and another patient would be wheeled in," Prasad told reporters.

The announcement shocked members of the medical fraternity, including those from the Tamil Nadu State Medical Council and the Indian Medical Association, who called it a blatant violation of the Hippocratic Oath.
Source:: Times of India