Surgeon dad lets 13-year-old daughter drill hole in patient's skull in Austria

An Austrian surgeon reportedly allowed his teenage daughter to drill a hole in a patient's skull who was being operated upon after receiving severe head injuries. Austrian newspaper, Kronen Zeitung, reported that the victim was a 33-year-old man who was flown by air ambulance to Graz University Hospital, in southeastern Austria after getting injured in a forestry incident in January.

He was operated upon in an emergency surgery and the 13-year-old girl was allegedly also inside the operation room. The newspaper reported that she even drilled a hole in his skull.

The revelation was made in April after an anonymous complaint was filed with the public prosecutor's office. The victim was only informed about what had transpired in the operation theatre three more months later in July. Even though the surgery went well, the man is unable to get back to work.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The Graz public prosecutor's office is conducting an inquiry into the entire surgical team. The surgeon and another specialist have reportedly been fired by the hospital.

Mere 'guinea pigs'

The victim came to know about the alleged act through the media first, and later when officials told him he was a witness in a case. Slammingthe incident, his 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."

Also Read:Woman gives birth on airplane at 25 weeks, nurse saves baby's life

Freiberger further added that the hospital did not contact his client even after the truth came out. "There was no contact, no explanation or apology, nothing. That is simply undignified," he said.

People are flabbergasted to learn that a child was allowed inside an operation theatre and was even allowed to drill the patient's skull.

The hospital has yet to comment on the matter.