Puducherry Youth Dies During Weight Loss Surgery In Chennai, TN Health Dept Orders Probe

The 26-year-old, weighing approximately 150 kg and hailing from Muthialpet, was admitted to a private hospital in suburban Pammal on April 21.

The health department swiftly formed a committee comprising two joint directors to investigate the incident and deliver a report within two days. (Image for representation)

Source : Pixabay

A young man from Puducherry, reportedly obese, faced complications during weight loss surgery at a private hospital in Chennai and subsequently passed away. Following this incident, the Tamil Nadu health department has initiated an inquiry, according to a senior official on Thursday. The 26-year-old, weighing approximately 150 kg and hailing from Muthialpet, was admitted to a private hospital in suburban Pammal on April 21.

The patient, reportedly diabetic, received a call from the doctor's PA stating that the surgery would amount to Rs 8 lakh at a private hospital in Chennai. However, opting for the hospital where the patient eventually chose to be admitted would reduce the cost to Rs 4 lakh.

After the admission, the young man was brought to the operation theatre the day after his admission for metabolic and bariatric surgery, as per his father, Selvanathan, who filed a complaint with the Shankar Nagar Police in Pammal, according to a report on PTI.

Minutes after the surgery began, the young man was reported to have experienced complications and was subsequently transferred to another private hospital for treatment, according to Selvanathan's complaint.

Later that night, on April 23, Selvanathan was informed by the hospital that his son had been brought in with complaints of chest pain and had passed away despite receiving treatment, as mentioned in the complaint.

Selvanathan has requested appropriate action against the doctor who performed the weight loss surgery, attributing the death of his son to the procedure. He revealed that his son, an IT professional, had contacted the doctor last year after watching videos of the doctor performing weight loss surgery on YouTube.

The health department swiftly formed a committee comprising two joint directors to investigate the incident and deliver a report within two days.