Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – What was intended to be a routine cosmetic enhancement ended in tragedy for two engineers in Kanpur, who died within 24 hours of undergoing hair transplant surgery at a private clinic. Authorities are now investigating allegations of medical negligence and questions over the qualifications of the practitioner involved.
The deceased have been identified as Vineet Dubey, an assistant engineer at Panki Power Plant, and Mayank Katiyar, an engineer from Farrukhabad. Both had undergone hair transplant procedures at Empire Clinic, operated by Dr. Anushka Tiwari.
According to officials, the first signs of malpractice emerged after Vineet Dubey’s wife, Jaya Tripathi, filed a formal complaint on the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s portal. Tripathi reported that her husband’s face had become severely swollen and he was in excruciating pain following the procedure. Dubey died on March 14, a day after undergoing the transplant.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vijendra Dwivedi told PTI that an infection likely developed during the surgery and was left untreated, leading to a rapid decline in Dubey’s condition.
A similar account was shared by Mayank Katiyar’s brother, who said that Katiyar underwent surgery on November 18 and began experiencing chest pain and facial swelling soon afterward. He died the following day.
In response to Tripathi’s complaint, an FIR was registered against Dr. Tiwari on May 9 under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for causing death by negligence. Police said Tiwari has not responded to six notices issued so far. Her clinic was found closed, and its signage removed.
Questions Over Medical Qualifications
Under Indian medical regulations, only certified dermatologists or plastic surgeons are permitted to perform hair transplant surgery. However, Dr. Tiwari holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from Manav Rachna Dental College in Faridabad and has reportedly never provided valid certification for conducting hair restoration procedures.
A previous patient of the clinic, Ramji Sachan, reported experiencing similar symptoms including swelling and pain following his hair transplant. He claimed that the clinic did not provide a prescription bearing the doctor’s name or registration number, raising further concerns about the legitimacy of the practice.
Investigation Underway
In light of these incidents, Kanpur Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hari Dutt Negi has established a three-member panel to investigate the clinic. The committee will review the clinic’s operating procedures, the number of patients treated, and the medical qualifications of those performing the surgeries.
The tragic outcomes have sparked renewed concerns over the safety of cosmetic procedures and the need for stricter enforcement of medical standards. Many patients, lured by promises of dramatic hair transplant before and after results, may be unaware of the risks when treatments are conducted by unqualified practitioners.
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