A highly unusual and potentially dangerous situation has led to the arrest of a neurosurgeon in Austria. The incident, which occurred during a brain surgery on January 13, 2024, at Graz Regional Hospital, involves allegations that the surgeon allowed her 12-year-old daughter to take part in the procedure. The patient’s attorney has stated that the surgeon handed her daughter a drill and told her to make a hole in the patient’s skull for a probe. The surgeon’s alleged justification for this act included her daughter’s prior experience in a ‘gynecological hysterectomy.’ Although the patient’s surgery was deemed successful, the potential for severe harm was significant, as emphasized by the legal team representing the patient. The defense has countered by stating the child did not actually drill and that her presence was inappropriate, with one lawyer suggesting the surgeon was unaware of the child’s age. The surgeon and another doctor are charged with causing minor physical injury, charges they contest. Testimony from the assisting doctor suggests the child requested to help and was allowed to place her hand on the drill under supervision when the lead surgeon was momentarily absent. This developing story continues to captivate international interest, with further court proceedings scheduled for December 10.
