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Barabanki Woman Dies After Botched Surgery by Self-Proclaimed Doctor Following YouTube Instructions
A heartbreaking case from Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, has exposed the deadly consequences of unqualified medical practitioners operating freely in rural areas. A woman identified as Munishra Rawat died after a man running an illegal clinic attempted to perform a surgical procedure on her by copying steps from a YouTube video, according to police investigations.
Munishra’s husband, Tehbahadur Rawat, had taken her to the clinic after she complained of severe stomach pain, which the fake doctor claimed was due to stones that required a minor operation. Believing him, the family paid ₹20,000u pfront, with the expectation of paying ₹5,000 more after the surgery. What was supposed to be a simple treatment turned into a fatal incident.
The man conducting the operation has been identified as Gyan Prakash Mishra, who, despite having no recognised medical qualification, had been posing as a doctor for years. Shockingly, the husband stated in his complaint that Mishra appeared to be drunk during the procedure and kept glancing at a YouTube tutorial to guide his actions. During the so-called operation, Mishra allegedly made a deep cut in Munishra’s abdomen and inadvertently severed several veins, causing massive internal bleeding.
The woman battled for her life but succumbed to her injuries the following day, on December 6. Investigators revealed that Mishra was not alone during the procedure. He was assisted by his nephew, Vivek Kumar Mishra, who works in an Ayurvedic hospital in Raebareli. Police believe the nephew’s association with a government facility helped create an illusion of legitimacy around the illegal clinic, misleading villagers into trusting the setup.
A case has now been registered against both men under charges of causing death by negligence, along with relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, as the victim belonged to a Scheduled Caste community. However, both accused are currently on the run, prompting police teams to launch an active search operation.
Following the incident, Sanjeev Kumar, the superintendent of the Kothi Community Health Centre, ordered the immediate sealing of Gyan Prakash’s clinic, stating that the facility had been functioning without any permission or medical authority.
The tragic event has sparked widespread concern among healthcare workers and local residents. Experts say this incident highlights a severe problem in many regions of India, where untrained individuals exploit the lack of accessible medical facilities by posing as doctors. This case also sheds light on the growing trend of people attempting medical treatments by relying on online videos without any formal training—an extremely dangerous practice that can lead to irreversible harm.
Community members are now urging stricter action against quacks, along with stronger awareness campaigns so people can distinguish between licensed medical professionals and imposters. Police officials have also appealed to residents to immediately report any illegal medical activity in their area to prevent further tragedies.
The Barabanki incident stands as a grim reminder that in matters of health, seeking care only from certified and trained professionals is not just advisable—it is lifesaving.
