Brain surgeon arrested after allegedly allowing 12-year-old daughter to drill a hole in patient’s head

A brain surgeon has been arrested on suspicion of allowing her child to 'drill' into an unsuspecting patient's head.

On January 13 last year, a man who had suffered a traumatic brain injury following a forestry accident was raced to Graz Regional Hospital in Austria for urgent life-saving surgery.

However, while the operation was a success, before its completion, a neurosurgeon reportedly had her 12-year-old daughter assist with the cranial procedure.

The Graz-East District Court heard on Tuesday (October 14) that the surgery had been performed by a doctor and a physician while the neurosurgeon, who had brought her child into the operating room, was still in training.

The details of what happened next have conflicting reports, however, the Times reports the child was left with a junior colleague as the surgeon stepped away from the table to make a call.

Allegedly her daughter was given a medical drill to create a hole in the patient's skull to create a probe, according to the indictment as per local news outlet Kurier.

The neurosurgeon claims she was 'distracted' when the incident occured (Getty)

According to prosecutor Julia Steiner, the mom allegedly proudly declared that her daughter had just 'drilled her first borehole,' translated from Kurier.

The indictment finds that while the operation on the patient went well, the 'risk cannot be downplayed'.

Steiner also said the move posed an 'incredible lack of respect for the patient'.

However, both the doctor and neurosurgeon pleaded not guilty to minor bodily harm from court.

The surgeon's attorney, Bernhard Lehofer, said in defense of the medic that the youngster didn't actually do anything.

"The child did not drill," he said, insisting the doctor had overall control of the equipment.

Lehofer added that it was 'not a good idea' to bring the child into the surgery but that his client has been paying for the blunder for almost two years now.

As for the doctor, who is also tied up in the case, attorney Michael Kropiunig said his client was unaware of the child's age.

"He allowed her to put her hand on his hand while he was operating the drill, but that's not relevant in criminal proceedings," he said as reported by the outlet.

The child was reportedly permitted inside the operating room (Getty)

As for how the alleged mishap unfolded, the doctor claimed towards the end of the surgery, his colleague had moved away from the table for a phone call.

The child then reportedly asked him: "May I help?" and when he asked her mom, she is said to have replied: "Why not?"

While he couldn't say precisely where the child's hand was, the court heard the youngster had placed her hand on top of the doctor's who had 'guided' the drill in.

The mom is further accused of persuading her colleague to 'deny' any questions about the incident.

The neurosurgeon further stated that her daughter had been studying in her office throughout most of the day but had followed her when she was called into the operating room, which she reportedly allowed.

However, she disputes having seen the alleged drilling moment, stating she was standing 'in the back' of the room and 'was distracted'.

When the prosecutor pressed if she had 'put pressure' on the doctor 'to keep quiet,' she reportedly replied: "I wanted to protect him."

It is also believed she told other staff at the hospital that it 'was just drilling' that her daughter had been involved in when an investigation was launched.

Stefan Wolfsberger, head of neurosurgery at the hospital, claimed to have received an anonymous letter about the matter, stating he 'couldn't believe it'.

The verdict of the case has since been postponed until December 10.