IMA condemns public behaviour towards doctor who died of virus

The 53-year-old doctor’s body was not allowed to be cremated and had to be taken back to the hospital. “After the issue, the patient’s body was taken back to Apollo Hospital on Monday and around 6 pm was taken to Porur electric crematorium for cremation,” said an official at Apollo Hospital.

The doctor was brought to the private hospital in Vanagaram on April 6 with severe acute respiratory distress and he passed away on April 13. His wife, who also tested positive for the virus, is under treatment at their home town while their four-year-old son is with relatives.

Sources said the doctor had recently inaugurated his clinic in Nellore on March 29 and had also treated several patients with symptoms of COVID-19.

The IMA Tamil Nadu condemned the incident and claimed such incidents leave doctors demoralised.

“Every health care personnel is fighting to save COVID-19 patients as their own kin. But, the attitude of the public is very much unacceptable.

This has sent negative sentiments among the doctors. The public, instead of appreciating the sacrifice, showed disrespect to the mortal remains of a doctor.

We appeal to the government and citizens of this country to not have such an attitude against the health care professionals,” said CN Raja, president, IMA TN.