Daughter-in-law of Indian doctor performs illegal surgery on pregnant woman

After a prominent doctor had allowed his daughter-in-law to perform an operation, a patient lost her uterus. Doctor was arrested, medical officials said Tuesday.

This is the second high-profile unlicensed surgery case in India in recent months, following the arrest of a doctor who had his 15-year-old son perform a Caesarean section in an attempt to establish a record as the world's youngest surgeon.

In the most recent case, Lata Rani, in her fifth month of pregnancy, was admitted to a private clinic in the city of Aligarh on July 9 complaining of abdominal pains, said Dr. R. C. Chadha, the city's chief medical officer, who conducted the inquiry.

She was examined by Dr. G.S. Verma, who owns the clinic, who said the fetus had died and recommended surgically removing it.

However, the surgery was carried out by Mithilesh Verma, the doctor's daughter-in-law, Chadha said.

"The lady who performed operation has no medical degree. She is just a teacher, whose father-in law is a prestigious doctor of the city," said Chadha.

It was not clear why Verma, a primary school teacher, was allowed to perform the surgery.

According to the investigation, she botched the operation and the patient bled profusely.

Rani was then taken to another hospital where an examination showed her uterus had been torn open and would have to be removed. Another operation was carried out.

"She will now never be able to conceive," said Chadha.

Dinesh Kumar, the patient's husband, filed a complaint with police, who shut down the clinic and arrested the doctor, said Chadha. The daughter-in-law has fled the area.

Aligarh is some 400 kilometers (248 miles) southwest of Lucknow, the state capital.