The national human rights commission (NHRC) has taken serious note of the shocking case of a fake cardiologist operating at Mission Hospital at Damoh in Madhya Pradesh (MP), where at least seven patients reportedly died following procedures carried out by the imposter. After completing its inquiry, the commission has found multiple irregularities and recommended several punitive and corrective actions to both the state and the Union government, calling for action taken reports within four weeks.
According to NHRC, Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav posed as a UK-trained cardiologist under the alias Dr N John Kamm and conducted at least 15 surgeries during his 42-day tenure at the hospital earlier this year. The commission’s findings come after a complaint was filed on 28 March 2025 which led to a detailed probe and the collection of reports from concerned authorities.
NHRC has now recommended that the state government pay Rs10 lakh each to the families of all seven deceased patients and suspend the hospital’s licence pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
The commission has also advised the MP police to initiate criminal proceedings against Mr Yadav and the management of Mission Hospital under charges such as culpable homicide, medical negligence, cheating, forgery, fraud and misuse of public health funds. Departmental action has been sought by NHRC against police officers who allegedly failed to properly register a first information report (FIR) or investigate the case when the first complaints were made.
The NHRC report raises grave concerns about systemic failure, calling for an immediate audit of all cath labs operating in the state and verification of the qualifications of doctors working in them. The hospital in question was also receiving funds under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, prompting the commission to instruct the economic offences wing (EOW) and the chief commissioner of income-tax (exemptions) at Bhopal, to examine the suspected misuse of government healthcare funds and donations meant for poor patients.
It has also directed the secretary of the Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) to verify cath labs across the country and ensure that all states monitor the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in both letter and spirit.
NHRC further asked the state government to clarify whether the hospital had valid insurance coverage and if any claims have been settled with the legal heirs of the victims. It has also sought information on whether patients were properly informed about the surgeries, their risks, and alternate options, and whether any such documentation was shared with the chief medical and health officer (CMHO), Damoh.
Additional concerns highlighted include alleged irregularities in the land dealings and unauthorised construction on the hospital’s premises.
NHRC has called for appropriate legal and disciplinary action against officials involved in such violations. It also recommended immediate protection for the whistle-blowers who exposed the fraud, in accordance with the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014.
Mr Yadav’s trail of deceit included using stolen medical degrees and a registration number belonging to another doctor. Investigations revealed that he brought in a suitcase containing a portable echo machine that he later disappeared with, according to hospital management. The case drew wider attention after it emerged that he may have similarly operated in other states, including Chhattisgarh, where he was linked to multiple deaths, and Telangana, where a case is under verification.
NDTV’s investigation revealed that Mr Yadav claimed to hold degrees from North Bengal Medical College, Pondicherry University, and St George’s Hospital in London, but all were found to be falsified or unverifiable. His medical knowledge was so limited that authorities are said to have tested his understanding using basic cardiology questions during interrogation.
In April, a local child rights activist, Deepak Tiwari, had first flagged the matter, revealing that Mr Yadav had been operating on patients without conducting proper diagnoses. The revelations triggered a massive public outcry, prompting the NHRC to step in.
The hospital management has claimed that Mr Yadav was recruited through a government-approved agency and that they too filed a police complaint after suspecting his credentials. However, authorities allege that there was clear negligence in verifying his identity and qualifications.
MP chief minister (CM) Mohan Yadav had earlier stated that strict action would be taken against all those responsible and instructed the health department to root out similar cases across the state.
With NHRC’s latest directive, the pressure on the state and Union governments has intensified and compliance with the recommendations will be closely watched over the coming weeks.
