Hyderabad: Unable to find a match for himself, 24-year-old IT professional Nikhil Reddy, who was 5.7 feet, underwent a limb strengthening and limb reconstruction surgery at Global Hospitals to increase his height, without informing his family.
Mr Reddy’s parents, residents of Bank Colony, registered a missing complaint with the police when he did not turn up for three days. The police traced him via his mobile phone to the hospital. When the hospital officials informed the police that he had undergone surgery, Mr Reddy’s parents raised a hue and cry wanting to know how the surgery was done without their knowledge.
A senior doctor said, “During counselling he was repeatedly asked to get this parents but he said that they were in Medak district. It was believed that his parents were not in the city.” Mr Reddy had been visiting the hospital for six months, but he always came alone.
High Court advocate M. Roshan Zameer said, “If the medical procedure is not life-threatening then the consent of a friend is enough. But it is important for the hospital to insist on the presence of relatives whatever the type of surgery. They must not agree to conduct any surgery without a blood relation’s consent. The hospital can be held liable for cheating.”
Global Hospitals in a written statement to the media stated that surgery does not fall under medico-legal cases. As the patient was mature and no suspicious activity was observed on his part, he was considered fit for undergoing the surgery.
