Indian doctors held for letting son, 15, operate

Last Updated: 2007-06-25 12:45:06 -0400 (Reuters Health)

CHENNAI, India (Reuters) - An Indian doctor couple was arrested on Monday after they allegedly allowed their 15-year-old son to perform a Caesarean section operation, police said.

The two were booked for various offences, including cheating, impersonation, causing grievous hurt and endangering the lives of persons.

The couple, from the southern state of Tamil Nadu, screened a video recording of the operation to other doctors in the hope of getting an entry for their son in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's youngest surgeon, newspapers reported last week.

Family members said the boy was only helping out in the operation on a 20-year-old woman, handing his father medical instruments. But Indian medical authorities investigated the case and found the couple guilty of malpractice, after which the police arrested them.

The baby was born healthy and with no complications.

If proven guilty in a court of law, the couple could be in prison for 3-10 years. Police said a search is on for the boy.