Fake UK cardiologist linked to 7 deaths in Madhya Pradesh: NHRC to probe Damoh hospital scandal

A major medical scandal has rocked Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, where a man posing as a UK-based cardiologist, “Dr N John Camm,” is now under investigation following the deaths of at least seven patients at Mission Hospital between December 2024 and February 2025. According to reports, the man vanished after being confronted by families of the deceased, raising serious concerns about medical negligence, identity fraud, and lack of institutional accountability.

One of the tragic cases involved 58-year-old Rahisa Begum, who died just hours after undergoing heart surgery in January. When her family demanded answers, the man who had operated on her — claiming to be Dr Camm — fled the hospital. “He got into his car and just drove away,” her son Nabi recalled.

Rahisa was one of several patients who underwent cardiac procedures under the supervision of the fake doctor. Among the other victims was 62-year-old Mangal Singh, who was admitted to the hospital in February with what his family believed were gas-related symptoms. Doctors recommended angiography followed by surgery. However, Mangal died soon after the procedure. His son, Jitendra Singh, shared his frustration: “Doctors were not available before or after surgery. An expensive injection ordered by the doctor wasn’t even administered. And when we demanded a postmortem, we were told the surgery was already done, and we should take the body home.”

Another shocking incident involved a patient named Asaram, who was brought in on January 31 with chest pain. His family was charged ₹50,000 for treatment and told an angiography had been performed. However, no medical reports or visuals were provided. Suspicious, the family shifted him to Jabalpur Medical College, where he recovered — without the need for any surgery.

District officials confirm that around 15 heart surgeries were conducted by the impostor over two and a half months, seven of which resulted in deaths. A preliminary inquiry led by Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Mukesh Jain and District Health Officer Dr Vikram Chauhan has already been submitted to the collector. A team from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is expected to visit the hospital on Monday (7) for further investigation.

The imposter introduced himself as “Dr N John Camm,” claiming mentorship under renowned UK cardiologist Prof A John Camm. However, his identity began to unravel after inconsistencies in his credentials surfaced online. In 2023, the name appeared in a suspicious Twitter post tagging Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, sparking doubt.

Authorities now suspect the man is actually Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, who has a prior arrest in Telangana in a cheating case. He has claimed to have completed his MBBS from the University of North Bengal in 1996 and MRCP from St George’s Hospital, London, in 2001 — credentials now under scrutiny.

Madhya Pradesh Police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, after CMHO MK Jain filed a complaint stating that the accused had no valid medical registration. Hospital officials remain unreachable as outrage grows and families demand justice.