Hyderabad: The sudden death of 39-year-old cardiac surgeon Dr. Gradlin Roy has left the medical fraternity in shock and sparked urgent discussions on the health risks faced by doctors in India. Dr. Roy, who collapsed during ward rounds, could not be revived despite advanced interventions including CPR, stenting, an intra-aortic balloon pump, and ECMO.

Wake-up Call for Doctors’ Heart Health

Senior neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kumar from Hyderabad took to X with a stark warning: “When the healer falls, it must serve as a wake-up call for doctors’ heart health.” He noted that multiple doctors in their 30s and 40s have succumbed to sudden heart attacks in recent years, a trend that reflects the hidden dangers of their high-pressure profession.

Causes Behind Rising Heart Attacks Among Doctors

According to Dr. Kumar, several factors contribute to this disturbing trend:

  • Erratic work schedules and long hours disrupt natural sleep cycles.

  • Life-or-death decisions and medicolegal pressures accelerate burnout.

  • Long hours standing in theatres or sitting in clinics leave little room for physical exercise.

  • Irregular meals, high caffeine intake, and delayed health check-ups further compound risks.

  • Emotional exhaustion, depression, and anxiety are often untreated due to stigma or time constraints.

    • Preventive Measures for Doctors

    Dr. Kumar emphasised the need for doctors to prioritise their own health:

    • Routine screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.

  • At least seven hours of sleep and 30 minutes of daily physical activity.

  • Balanced meals and stress management practices like yoga or meditation.

  • Strong peer support systems to reduce burnout.

    • Perhaps his most important message was the need to learn to say no. Not every case is urgent, and protecting patients starts with protecting the doctor’s own health.

    Systemic Concerns and Previous Cases

    KMC doctor Aditi Sharma called for reforms to reduce punishing work hours, citing instances where doctors work 36–48 hours straight with poor food and inadequate rest.

    In 2023, renowned Gujarat cardiologist Dr. Gaurav Gandhi, aged 41, died of a heart attack after having performed over 16,000 heart surgeries.

    WHO Findings on Overwork

    A joint WHO–ILO study reported that long working hours contributed to 7.45 lakh deaths in 2016, mostly from heart disease and stroke. People working 55 hours or more per week face a 35% higher risk of stroke and 17% higher risk of heart disease.

    Voices from the Medical Community

    Delhi-based surgeon Dr. Chandranshu Chaudhary described Dr. Roy’s death as a result of “years of insults to the body” from prolonged work hours. Forensic medicine specialist Dr. Dheeraj Maheshwari urged doctors to consider rest and family time essential, not optional.

    Apollo Energy’s Project Director Satyamurthy Nageswaran called for systemic reforms to enforce reasonable shift limits, mandatory vacations, and a culture of sustainable work practices.

    The consensus is clear: the health of those who save lives must be protected as urgently as the lives they save.