‘Unqualified and fraudulent’ cardiologist linked to three patient deaths
A doctor in India is accused of impersonating a cardiologist for several months and performing approximately 50 heart procedures.
Pankaj Mohan Sharma allegedly pretended to be a trained cardiologist by using the credentials of another physician with a similar name. He was hired in July 2024 by Mediternia Hospital, where he worked regularly until he was asked to provide proof of his medical degree. According to investigators, colleagues caught on to Sharma’s scheme at a certain point, but they did not stop him from seeing patients and performing high-risk heart procedures.
Officials first learned of the situation when a lawyer and activist filed an official complaint and accused Sharma of killing three patients.
Five others have also been charged in associated with these alleged actions. This includes the hospital’s head of corporate HR as well as other officials who helped oversee the facility. Charges include endangering life or personal safety, cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy, among others. At this time, however, no arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.
The Times of India and The Indian Express were among the first outlets to report on this ongoing story. Updates are expected as Sharma and the other health officials go through the court system.
This is a separate case from the man accused of impersonating a British doctor and performing at least 15 heart surgeries in India.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.