A female neurosurgeon was taken into custody following allegations that she allowed her 12-year-old daughter to operate a drill on a patient’s skull during a surgical procedure. The incident occurred on January 13, 2024, when a 33-year-old man was brought to Graz Regional Hospital in Austria with a severe head injury. The surgery, led by a senior physician with another doctor present, involved the trainee neurosurgeon who had her daughter present in the operating room.
According to prosecutors, as the surgery neared completion, the neurosurgeon reportedly handed the drill to her daughter, instructing her to create a hole for the probe. The surgeon allegedly boasted that her daughter had just performed her first gynecological procedure. The case was brought to light after several anonymous complaints. While the surgery itself was successful, the prosecutor emphasized the lack of respect shown to the patient and the potential danger involved.
The defense lawyer for the neurosurgeon argued that the girl never actually operated the drill, stating that the overseeing doctor maintained full control. Despite acknowledging that bringing her daughter into the operation room was ill-advised, the lawyer emphasized that the neurosurgeon had faced consequences for her actions over the past two years.
The doctor’s attorney clarified that his client was unaware of the girl’s age, noting that he allowed her to place her hand over his while he operated the drill, which he deemed irrelevant to the legal proceedings. Both the neurosurgeon and the doctor appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to minor bodily harm charges.
The doctor recounted that his colleague had left the operating room briefly, prompting the girl to ask if she could assist. He claimed to have obtained the mother’s permission before allowing the girl to place her hand on his as he guided the drill. The mother stated that her daughter had requested to observe the surgery after spending time studying in an office on-site, mentioning that she did not witness the drilling incident clearly.
When questioned about her efforts to silence her colleague amidst the reports, the neurosurgeon explained that she aimed to protect him. The head of neurosurgery at the hospital was alerted to the incident through an anonymous letter and expressed disbelief at the situation. The case has been postponed until December 10 to allow experts to provide testimony in court.