Shocking Surgery: Brain Surgeon Arrested After Letting 12-Year-Old Drill Patient’s Skull
Shocking Surgery: Brain Surgeon Arrested After Letting 12-Year-Old Drill Patient’s Skull
A neurosurgeon in Austria has been arrested after allegedly allowing her 12-year-old daughter to drill a hole in a patient’s skull during a surgical operation. The incident took place at Graz Regional Hospital on January 13, 2024, during an operation for a 33-year-old man who had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a serious accident.
The Surgery and Alleged Incident
The operation was led by a senior physician and assisted by another doctor. The neurosurgeon, who was a trainee at the hospital, reportedly brought her daughter into the operating theatre. As the procedure was ending, prosecutors say the woman handed her daughter a surgical drill, letting her make a hole in the patient’s skull for a probe.
Prosecutor Julia Steiner told the Austrian news outlet Kurier that the incident showed “an incredible lack of respect for the patient” and emphasised that the potential danger of such an act “cannot be downplayed.” Steiner added that the patient, thankfully, survived the surgery.
The neurosurgeon’s defence lawyer, Bernhard Lehofer, argued that the child never actually performed the drilling. He said the supervising doctor maintained full control of the drill. “The child did not drill,” Lehofer stated, adding that although it was “not a good idea” to allow the daughter in the operating room, his client has faced consequences for this decision for nearly two years.
Attorney Michael Kropiunig, who also represents the neurosurgeon, added that the doctor supervising the procedure did not know the exact age of the girl. “He allowed her to put her hand on his hand while he was operating the drill, but that’s not relevant in criminal proceedings,” Kropiunig said.
Court Proceedings
Both the neurosurgeon and the assisting doctor appeared at the Graz-East District Court on Tuesday. They pleaded not guilty to charges of minor bodily harm. According to the doctor, the neurosurgeon left the theatre to make a phone call near the end of the operation. During that time, the daughter asked if she could help, and with her mother’s permission, the doctor let her place her hand on his as he guided the drill.
The mother said her daughter had wanted to join her in the operating room after spending the day in an on-site office studying. She stated that she allowed her daughter to watch the procedure, but did not see the drilling in detail. She also explained that she pressured her colleague to remain quiet when reports of the incident emerged because she wanted to protect him.
Hospital Reaction
The head of neurosurgery at Graz Regional Hospital, Stefan Wolfsberger, said he learned of the incident through an anonymous letter. “I couldn’t believe it,” Wolfsberger told reporters. The case has now been postponed until December 10, giving experts time to prepare their statements for the court proceedings. Authorities continue to investigate the incident and the potential risks involved in allowing a minor to participate in a medical procedure.
