In a concerning case of medical impersonation, Indian police have apprehended Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, a 53-year-old man accused of impersonating a British cardiologist, resulting in the deaths of seven patients.
Known as Dr. N John Camm, he allegedly operated at a missionary hospital in Madhya Pradesh, where he performed numerous surgeries under false pretenses.
Authorities allege that Yadav faked his medical qualifications and misappropriated the name of Professor John Camm, a recognized cardiologist associated with St George's Hospital in the UK, to enhance his credibility.
Following an investigation initiated by a local child welfare committee, discrepancies in his credentials were identified, prompting further scrutiny from district officials.
Deepak Tiwari, the president of the Child Welfare Committee, noted that the committee's concerns arose in February after multiple patient deaths were reported.
Upon investigation, police found that Yadav had performed a total of 64 procedures, including 45 angioplasties, and oversaw operations that allegedly led to fatalities.
Concerns were raised when it was discovered that Yadav had vacated his position at the hospital shortly before being reported missing, leading to his eventual arrest in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
The Mission Hospital, where Yadav worked for a few weeks, has denied any awareness of his fraudulent credentials, emphasizing that he had not raised suspicion among staff due to his seemingly competent performance in the role.
Yadav's legal troubles are extensive and documented.
In 2019, he was reportedly involved in an abduction case concerning a British doctor he had invited to join him at a hospital in Hyderabad.
In addition, he faced professional sanctions in 2014 when Indian medical authorities imposed a five-year ban on him for misconduct.
Allegations of fraud and cheating were also made against him in 2013 in Uttar Pradesh, although legal action faced obstacles due to a stay on the complaint.
The authenticity of Yadav's medical degrees remains in question, with police suspecting they are either fraudulent or improperly documented, lacking essential identifiers such as unique registration numbers associated with legitimate qualifications.
Later reports highlighted that Yadav had previously registered multiple companies in the UK, altering their names to strengthen his claims of affiliation with real medical professionals.
Furthermore, he had created an online persona that misrepresented his educational background and professional history, leading to further confusion about his credentials.
Yadav's case has drawn attention to ongoing issues surrounding medical malpractice and the verification of qualifications in India, prompting discussions about stricter oversight to protect patients from unqualified medical practitioners.