A neurosurgeon was taken into custody for allegedly allowing her 12-year-old daughter to assist in drilling a hole in a patient’s skull during a surgical procedure. The incident occurred on January 13, 2024, at Graz Regional Hospital in Austria, where a 33-year-old man was admitted with a traumatic brain injury following a severe accident. The surgery, conducted by a senior physician and another doctor, involved the participation of a trainee neurosurgeon who brought her daughter into the operating room.
According to prosecutors, as the surgery neared completion, the surgeon reportedly handed her daughter the drill, permitting her to create a hole for the probe. The surgeon allegedly bragged that her daughter had just performed her first procedure, likening it to a gynecological hysterectomy.
The matter came to light after several anonymous complaints were lodged. While the surgery itself was successful, prosecutors emphasized that the purported incident demonstrated a significant lack of regard for the patient and highlighted the potential risks involved.
In their defense, the surgeon’s lawyer stated that the girl did not actually operate the drill, asserting that the overseeing doctor maintained full control of the instrument. The defense acknowledged that bringing the daughter into the operating room was ill-advised and acknowledged the repercussions the surgeon has faced for nearly two years.
Representing the doctor involved, Attorney Michael Kropiunig explained that his client was unaware of the girl’s age and allowed her to place her hand on his while he operated the drill, dismissing its relevance in the legal proceedings.
Both the neurosurgeon and the doctor appeared before the Graz-East District Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of minor bodily harm.
The doctor recounted that his colleague briefly left the operating room at the end of the surgery, prompting the young girl to offer assistance. He maintained that he sought the mother’s approval before allowing the daughter to place her hand over his as he guided the drill.
The mother claimed her daughter expressed interest in witnessing the surgery after spending the day studying in an on-site office. While she permitted her daughter to observe, she admitted to being at the back of the room and possibly distracted when the drilling incident occurred.
When questioned about her efforts to silence her doctor colleague following the reports, the woman stated she aimed to shield him. The head of neurosurgery at the hospital, Stefan Wolfsberger, was informed of the incident through an anonymous letter and expressed disbelief at the news.
The court proceedings have been postponed until December 10 to allow expert testimonies to be presented.