Masala salesman-turned-surgeon watched DIY YouTube tutorials before surgeries

The salesman who ran an orthopaedic clinic in Vasai for over three years with a fake medical degree allegedly took the DIY (do it yourself) route to carry out surgeries on patients. The arrested accused, Hemant Sonawane, alias Hemant Patil, has told the police that he would watch YouTube videos before performing complicated procedures. His patients, the victims of botched operations, are now paying the price.

Sonawane, who had been running the clinic since 2018, was recently arrested. Sources said he is well aware of medical terminologies related to bones as he once dealt in orthopaedic medical equipment.

Accused Hemant Sonawane, alias Hemant Patil. Pics/Hanif Patel

"He seems to be very a confident man with zero medical knowledge. But he would pretend to be a seasoned medical practitioner and was an orthopaedic consultant with many hospitals in Vasai-Virar-Nalasopara," said an officer attached to Vasai police station.

"When he was a salesman, he came in touch with many orthopaedic doctors. After a patient contacted him with a problem, Sonawane would always consult them for medical advice and later he would watch these surgeries on YouTube before operating his patients," the officer said.

Leena Khatkekar, who was operated upon by Sonawane in 2019, is mostly confined to her bed

The alleged fraudster, who was once a masala salesman, married five women, all well-educated and independent. He was arrested after one of his wives, a dentist, learnt about his fake medical degree and reported him to the police in Amravati. Sonawane allegedly had relationships with many nurses at the hospitals where he was a consultant, said the source.

The police have recovered a diary where Sonawane had mentioned the details of his patients. "We have learnt about half-dozen such patients who underwent surgeries at the hand of Sonawane…. We are in the process of recording their statements and separate FIRs will be registered to make it a watertight case against him," the officer added.

Sonawane's now-shuttered clinic in Vasai. Pics/Hanif Patel

Two years after ‘surgery', fisherwoman still in pain

The family of one more victim of Sonawane has now come forward. A Vasai fisherwoman, Leena Khatkekar underwent hip joint replacement surgery at Shree Sai Multispeciality Hospital, Vasai, in December 2019 by Sonawane. The 43-year-old is nearly bedridden since then, her husband Liladhar told mid-day.

"The wound is yet to heal…puss still oozes from the wound…I am too poor to afford the treatment for my wife…she is almost bedridden after the surgery…Sonawane has ruined us," he said.

Before surgery, Liladhar said, Leena would go to Colaba to sell fish. "But she developed pain in the lower back. I took her to the clinic of Sonawane in Vasai and he told me that she urgently needed hip surgery," Liladhar said.

"He told me that the surgery would cost nearly Rs 1.75 lakh and she will be all fine. I contacted my relatives who helped me financially. Also, I took a loan to meet the medical expenses," said Liladhar, adding, "The total medical cost was R4 lakh."

She was first admitted to Siddhivinayak Hospital in Vasai, he said. "But after two days, Sonawane told me to shift her to Shree Sai Multispeciality Hospital as there was no ICU in Siddhivinayak hospital. On December 18, 2019, her first surgery was conducted," he said.

"After six days, he conducted a second surgery and she was discharged."

The couple was asked to visit Sonawane's clinic for the dressing of the wound and follow-up.

"My wife would always tell me that there is no relief in the pain after the surgeries. We also told the same to the doctor, but he would reply saying ‘thik ho jaega'…I told him that the ‘I can understand that the surgeries were unsuccessful but at least the wound should heal' but he would scream at me… I thought he is a doctor, who would know better than me but he was a fraud who made our life hell," he added.

After a few weeks, lockdown was imposed and the couple could not meet Sonawane. "He would always tell me on phone to visit a hospital in Bhayandar but he did not name the hospital… I was so helpless that I started dressing her wound as I had no money left to take her for treatment in the lockdown," said Liladhar.

Now, Leena needs a walker to reach the washroom. Most of the time, she is confined to the bed.

Liladhar said he recently learnt about the case against Sonawane and approached the police. A team is yet to visit his house to record the statement of his wife.

Dr Padmaraj Patil, director of Shree Sai Multispeciality Hospital, said, "In a bid to be the consultant at our hospital, Sonawane had submitted the copy of his medical degree and we had forwarded it to the municipal corporation. We were not aware that he is a fake ortho-surgeon." He added, "But after a month, when we learnt about a few botched surgeries by Sonawane, we stopped him."