Kerala doctor dies by suicide, days after child’s death during sugery in his hospital

On September 23, a seven-year-old girl, admitted to the hospital run by Dr Anoop, had suffered a cardiac arrest during a knee surgery that was led by Dr Anoop himself

A young orthopaedic surgeon in Kerala died by suicide Thursday reportedly on account of being harassed by many on social media platforms accusing him for the death of a seven-year-old child during surgery on September 23.

The Kilikollur police in Kollam district have filed a case of unnatural death after 35-year-old Dr Anoop Krishna, who runs the Anoop Ortho Care hospital, was found dead at his home in Kadappakada. Moments before his death, he had reportedly scribbled the word ‘sorry’ on the walls of the bathroom.

A senior police officer, probing the death, said it is too early to say if the doctor’s suicide has any connection to the death of a child during surgery a week ago. He said the police would investigate if the doctor was harassed or received online/offline threats.

On September 23, a seven-year-old girl, admitted to the hospital run by Dr Anoop, had suffered a cardiac arrest during a knee surgery that was led by Dr Anoop himself. Although she was taken to another hospital, she passed away. The family of the deceased along with locals staged protests in front of the hospital, holding Dr Anoop responsible. They also filed a case of medical negligence with the Kollam East police station. The probe, led by Assistant Commissioner A Pradeep Kumar, was underway when Dr Anoop took his life.

Kumar, when asked about the probe, said, “The investigation is at a primary stage. There are several procedures involved and we cannot jump to any conclusions. The child’s post-mortem report and other lab reports are awaited.”

“We have been in touch with the doctor’s office all along and had even asked him to contact us (if he was facing threats). He didn’t personally tell me anything about it.”

Meanwhile, several doctors came to the fore in support of Dr Anoop, censuring the “trial by social media and online portals”.

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