Austrian surgeon fired after 'letting teenage daughter drill hole in patient's skull'

27 August 2024, 14:54 | Updated: 27 August 2024, 14:57

An Austrian surgeon has been fired after allegedly letting their teenage daughter drill a hole in a patient's skull (stock image)
An Austrian surgeon has been fired after allegedly letting their teenage daughter drill a hole in a patient's skull (stock image). Picture: Alamy

By Lauren Lewis

An Austrian surgeon has been fired after allegedly letting their teenage daughter drill a hole in a patient's skull.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The neurosurgeon, who has not been named, reportedly allowed their 13-year-old daughter to operate a drill and make a hole in an unconscious patient's skull in January.

The victim, 33, was flown by air ambulance to Graz University Hospital in southeastern Austria after sustaining a serious head injury in a forestry accident, according to Kronen Zeitung.

The emergency surgery reportedly went well, but the patient has not yet been able to return to work.

Prosecutors in Graz, the regional capital of Styria, Austria’s second-largest state, were made aware of the alleged incident in April when an anonymous complaint was lodged.

The victim learned of the case in the media but was not informed by police that he was the victim until July, the newspaper added.

Read more: Trainee GP suspended after forcing patient to cry over her late husband so he could film it and prove he had 'empathy'

Read more: Nurse involved in giving two babies lethal doses of cyanide medication at London hospital still allowed to practice

The victim's lawyer Peter Freiberger said: "You lie there. Unwilling, unconscious, and become guinea pigs. There's probably no other way to put it... that's not possible. You can't do that."

Mr Freiberger added: "There was no contact, no explanation or apology, nothing. That is simply undignified."

He is reportedly seeking to sue the surgical team and get damages for the victim.

In May the neurosurgeon and another specialist doctor who was present during the surgery were let go from the hospital.

Five other people who were present in the operating theatre are under investigation over the incident.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Video footage shows the convoy had emergency lights flashing when it was hit

Israeli troops opened fire on ambulances because of 'perceived threat', IDF investigation finds

Angela

Angela Rayner quizzed on whether Army could be deployed to Birmingham to help collect bins during strike

John Lees

Teacher who crashed car into tree on way to school after drinking half bottle of wine avoids ban from teaching

LBC's Tom Swarbrick headed to Birmingham to investigate the bin strikes

LBC's Tom Swarbrick investigates the Birmingham bin strike as 'mountains of rubbish' fill the streets

Neighbours rushed to the terraced house after a gunman fired into its living room on Sunday.

Horror video shows moment ‘gunman shoots dad, 60, dead through downstairs window’ in broad daylight

Police have launched an urgent search for missing girl, who was last seen 24 hours ago in Stoke-on-Trent.

Urgent hunt for missing schoolgirl, 12, after she didn't return home last night

A plastic surgeon has been found guilty of attempting to murder a fellow doctor

Plastic surgeon guilty of attempting to murder colleague he wanted 'out of the way'

Blondie, 1979. Clockwise from top left, guitarist Chris Stein, singer Debbie Harry, bass player Nigel Harrison, drummer Clem Burke, guitarist Frank Infante and keyboard player Jimmy Destri

Tributes pour in as Blondie star dies aged 70 after private battle with cancer

Seven people were taken to hospital following the blaze

Seven people taken to hospital and eight homes evacuated after fire breaks out at block of flats

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has launched a public inquiry into the Southport murders after three young girls were killed last July.

Inquiry launched into Axel Rudakubana's Southport triple-murder

Headteacher Anthony John Felton pleaded guilty to attempted grievous bodily harm with intent

'Spectacular fall from grace': Headteacher who attacked deputy faces ‘inevitable’ prison sentence

Belgrave Road in Pimlico, London.

Fury as Labour-run Westminster council plots to ‘seize 11,000 empty homes’

Ivan Juric

Ivan Juric leaves Southampton after record-breaking Premier League relegation

Exclusive
Sadiq Khan has told LBC he won't take any action after a video emerged of a man taking crack cocaine on the Underground.

Sadiq Khan says 'people shouldn't break the law' after man filmed taking crack cocaine on the Tube

Emergency ambulances waiting outside the Whittington Hospital in Archway, Islington, London, UK

Patients miss vital prescription medicine while waiting in A&E - with long waiting times making things worse

Outrage as rescued surfer sets up fundraiser for new wetsuit - rather than RNLI

Outrage as rescued surfer sets up fundraiser for new wetsuit - rather than RNLI