Woman dies after fake doctor allegedly followed YouTube surgery tutorial while drunk

A woman in northern India has died after an unlicensed practitioner allegedly attempted to perform surgery while watching a YouTube tutorial and drinking alcohol, according to police.

The incident reportedly occurred in Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh, where the so-called doctor failed to remove the woman’s kidney stones and instead inflicted fatal injuries.

Police say the woman, identified as Munishra Rawat, was taken to an unauthorized clinic on December 5 after suffering severe stomach pain. Her husband, Fateh Bahadur, brought her to Shri Damodar Aushadhalaya, a facility allegedly operated by Gyan Prakash Mishra and his nephew, Vivek Mishra.

According to reports, Prakash diagnosed Rawat with kidney stones and offered to perform surgery for 20,000 rupees, roughly $220, reduced from an initial quote of 25,000 rupees.

Instead, investigators allege Prakash carried out the procedure while intoxicated, cutting multiple nerves in her stomach, small intestine, and esophagus. Rawat later died from her injuries.

Fake doctor allegedly watched YouTube during botched $220 surgery

Bahadur told The Indian Express that Prakash claimed the condition had worsened and required immediate surgery. He was allegedly told other doctors would assist, but no one arrived.

“So he carried out the surgery himself, saying he had learnt the procedure from social media,” Bahadur said.

Police allege Prakash followed a YouTube tutorial during the operation while drunk.

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Authorities say the clinic was operating without proper authorization and that both men fled the scene following Rawat’s death. She is survived by her husband and three young children.

After a complaint was filed, officers inspected the facility, ordered a post-mortem examination, and brought charges. Senior police official Amit Singh Bhaduria confirmed the clinic has since been shut down.

Gyan Prakash Mishra and Vivek Mishra have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with violations under India’s SC ST Act.

This is not the first time a medical professional has gone viral for relying on online tutorials mid-procedure. In 2023, a patient shared footage of a doctor watching a how-to video before wrapping his ankle.

In another case, a man visiting a dentist while on holiday in Mexico was stunned when his dentist pulled up a YouTube tutorial during treatment.