Faridabad doctor posed as cardiologist, performed 50 surgeries without qualification

A general physician in Faridabad is under investigation for allegedly impersonating a cardiologist and conducting nearly 50 heart procedures without the required medical qualifications, police said June 7.

The suspect, employed at a heart care centre run under a public-private partnership at Badshah Khan Civil Hospital, is accused of forging credentials and misleading both patients and hospital authorities.

The alleged scam came to light after a lawyer and activist, Sanjay Gupta, filed a complaint in April. The whistleblower claimed the doctor had used forged documents to obtain additional degrees and falsely presented himself as a specialist. His prescriptions and stamps reportedly bore fraudulent designations like “MD” and “DNB (Cardiology)” — credentials he did not possess.

“The preliminary probe has confirmed that the registration number with the National Medical Commission identifies him as a general physician, not a cardiologist,” a police spokesperson said. “We’ve asked the Chief Medical Officer and hospital for all relevant records. An FIR will be filed once we have the documentation.”

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has launched a parallel probe and recently seized equipment from the hospital as part of the investigation.

The case took a serious turn after several patients reported complications post-surgery. Alarm bells rang louder in February when the accused abruptly stopped appearing at the hospital after being asked to produce his medical degrees. Shortly afterward, the state health department shut down the heart centre, already facing scrutiny over regulatory violations and suspended government funding.

The Indian Medical Association had also received a complaint in January from a genuine cardiologist whose name and credentials were allegedly misused by the accused. A legal notice was served to the impersonator, police sources confirmed.

Hospital staff told investigators that the man was hired as a general physician but was dismissed after failing to respond to multiple show-cause notices.

This case echoes another medical scam from Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district, where a man posing as a renowned UK-based cardiologist allegedly performed unauthorized surgeries that led to at least seven patient deaths. Arrested in April, he had reportedly maintained the ruse for over a decade across several states.

Faridabad police say they are treating the case with utmost seriousness. “The implications are grave, given the number of patients and the nature of procedures performed,” an officer said.