Doctor treating Covid-19 patients commits suicide

“A thorough search of the deceased’s room was done and a suicide notice was found. However, no reason for suicide was mentioned in the note. Further probe is on,” said DCP South Delhi.

Former Indian Medical Association (IMA) chief Dr Ravi Wankhedkar said in a tweet that Dr Vivek Rai took the extreme step due to depression as he was fighting the deadly pandemic for nearly a month in a private hospital.

"He was a very brilliant doctor from Gorakhpur (in Uttar Pradesh) and helped to save hundreds of lives during the pandemic," 

Dr Wankhedkar wrote that Dr Vivek Rai was dealing with seven to eight critical patients every day and he slipped into depression as more and more people succumbed to the infection.

"Due to this frustrating situation he was into, he took such a difficult decision of ending his own life than living with the suffering and emotions of the people who died on his watch," Dr Wankhedkar said.

Dr Vivek Rai is survived by his wife who is two months pregnant.

"This brings into focus the tremendous emotional strain while managing Covid crisis. This death of a young doctor is nothing short of murder by the 'system' which has created frustrations with shortage of basic healthcare facilities. Bad science, bad politics and bad governance," the former IMA president tweeted.