Renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Pramod Karan Sethi, whose invention of artificial limb ‘Jaipur foot’ helped lakhs of amputees around the world lead a normal life again, died of cardiac arrest here on Sunday.
Sethi (80) breathed his last at a private hospital, family sources said. He is survived by his wife, one son and three daughters.
A recipient of Padmashree award and the Ramon Magsaysay award for community leadership, Sethi figured in the Guinness book of world records for the record number of people using the artificial limb, named after the city it was conceived in.
Dr Sethi, who retired as the Head and Professor of Orthopaedic Department at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital, was a consultant at the Satokhab Durlabhji Memorial Hospital for the last couple of years. He also worked with the Delhi-based Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), a non-profit organisation that provides artificial limbs free of cost to the disabled.
The limb, invented in 1969, came as manna for amputees not only for its low cost but also for being light and easy for the body to adapt. The International Committee of the Red Cross discovered that the Jaipur foot was the hardiest for the mountainous Afghan terrain, and distributed it there. Thereafter the ‘Jaipur foot’ became a popular choice in countries with landmine amputees.