Famed CNN journo Dr Gupta’s claim ‘false’

Questions over the identity of the girl whom CNN journalist Dr Sanjay Gupta reportedly operated on in Bir Hospital two days after the April 25 earthquake have cast doubt over his claim. Famed CNN journo Dr Gupta’s claim ‘false’

bookmark

facebook
twitter
Whatsapp
mail

Published at : July 10, 2015

Updated at : July 10, 2015 09:04

Kathmandu

Questions over the identity of the girl whom CNN journalist Dr Sanjay Gupta reportedly operated on in Bir Hospital two days after the April 25 earthquake have cast doubt over his claim.

The work of Dr Gupta, chief medical correspondent, came under the scanner after an independent verification by Global Press Journal revealed that he had “wrongly reported that he helped perform a craniotomy that saved an 8-year-old quake victim from permanent brain damage or death”.

The GPJ reported that the girl that Dr Gupta “assisted” in operating is Sandhya Chalise, 14, and not eight-year-old Salina Dahal as reported in the footage.

“Sumitra Chalise, Sandhya’s mother, and Prakash Bista, her

uncle, say they saw Gupta walk into the operating room, but they are not sure what he did there,” the reportage reads. “The

CNN crew did not get permission to photograph Sandhya or publish

those photos,” Sumitra was quoted as saying.

In a much circulated and televised video clip by the CNN, Dr Gupta is seen for few seconds working along with the doctors of Bir Hospital, one of them neurosurgeon Dr Rajiv Jha, during the operation.

Dr Jha has also confuted the version of Dr Gupta who, in his reportage, has said that the doctors in Nepal had asked for his help to conduct the surgery.

The GPJ reporting, however, contrasts the quote of Dr Jha who claimed to

have said that Dr Gupta “merely observed” the entire procedure.

“But CNN provided GPJ with unused raw footage showing Gupta in the same operating room with Jha, using a hand-operated drill, a string saw and other tools. That video was never released publicly; CNN provided it to GPJ as proof that Gupta did more than observe,” the write-up states.

Dr Jha, speaking to the Post, however said Dr Gupta’s role in the operation was that of an “assistant” like the one they ask “trainee doctors” to do.

“We are trying to independently verify exactly which child it was,” the news posted on the CNN website on July 8 following the revelation of the misleading identification quoted Dr Gupta as saying.

The CNN said in a statement that they are “so proud that Sanjay was one of the few reporters in Nepal to cover the earthquake, and while there, was asked to help save a young victim’s life.” The company states that Dr Gupta “has full and unequivocal support”.