Fatal Medical Negligence: The Lifting of Dr. Nishan Moheeputh's Suspension Sparks Division
Dr. Nishan Moheeputh, found guilty of serious medical negligence that resulted in a patient’s death following liposuction, has had his suspension lifted by the Medical Council. This decision has not garnered unanimous support.
The case dates back to July 2024 when Dr. Moheeputh performed liposuction on magistrate Varsha Devi Biefun-Doorga. The patient developed severe postoperative complications that led to her death. Subsequently, the Medical Council launched a preliminary investigation before referring the case to the Medical Disciplinary Tribunal, which upheld three charges against the practitioner. These charges were substantiated and proven before the Tribunal, which found him guilty of serious medical negligence.
On April 1, 2026, after thirteen months of suspension—effective since February 13, 2025—the Medical Council lifted the measure against Dr. Moheeputh. Instead, he was given a severe reprimand in accordance with Section 17 (4) (a) (i) of the Medical Council Act.
In a statement released on April 8, the Council justified its decision by stating that the duration of the suspension already served was taken into account, and that legal provisions do not allow for a suspension exceeding two years. However, it emphasized that the doctor was indeed found guilty of serious medical negligence.
This decision has elicited mixed reactions. The Government Medical and Dental Officers Association (GMDOA) believes all procedures were followed in this case. According to Dr. Meetheelesh Abeeluck, president of GMDOA, it all depends on how the case was presented and defended in court. He noted that Dr. Moheeputh has already been "sanctioned" by his thirteen months of suspension. "The verdict of the Medical Tribunal must be respected," he stated, and "the decision of the Medical Council to lift his suspension should be understood."
He also clarified that following this announcement, the lifting of the suspension does not mean the doctor can immediately resume his practice; he will need to initiate the necessary procedures to become eligible to practice medicine once again.
Conversely, others argue that the plastic surgeon should have been struck off, considering that the "gross medical negligence" resulting in a patient’s death constitutes a sufficiently serious offense to warrant his permanent exclusion.
