An Austrian neurosurgeon is facing serious charges after allegedly permitting her 12-year-old daughter to participate in a patient’s brain surgery. The incident occurred at Graz Regional Hospital on January 13, 2024. According to legal representatives for the patient, the surgeon, towards the end of the procedure, reportedly gave a drill to her daughter and directed her to create a hole in the patient’s skull to insert a probe. The surgeon’s defense reportedly included a claim that her daughter had prior surgical experience, referencing a “gynecological hysterectomy.” Although the patient’s surgery was successful, his lawyer stressed the grave dangers involved. The defense team has presented a different account, acknowledging the child’s inappropriate presence in the operating room but disputing that she actively drilled. One lawyer suggested the surgeon was unaware of the daughter’s age. The neurosurgeon and another doctor involved are accused of minor physical injury offenses, which they deny. Testimony from the assisting doctor revealed that the child expressed a desire to help and was allowed to briefly touch the drill while supervised during a moment the lead surgeon was on a phone call. This case continues to be a focal point of international medical and legal discussion, with a further court date set for December 10.
