Dr Sudheer Chauhan becomes third Indian doctor to die on front lines of Covid-19 in US

WASHINGTON: Another Indian-American physician in the US has died of Covid-19, bringing to three the numbers of Indian-origin doctors who have died on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr Sudheer S Chauhan, an Internal Medicine specialist in South Richmond Hill, New York, who was diagnosed with Covid-19 and was battling for his life for the past few weeks, died of complications from the illness on May 19, his family and the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI) said in a statement.
“Our Father, Dr Sudheer Singh Chauhan, Internal Medicine Physician and Associate Program Director IM Residency Program at Jamaica Hospital, New York passed away on May 19 after battling with Covid for two months. We will miss this unique, kind, gentle and caring spirit,” his daughter, Sneh Chauhan wrote on Covid-19 Physicians Memorial.
Dr Chauhan received his graduate medical education from GSUM Medical College, University of Kanpur, India in 1972.
Nearly 20 doctors and healthcare workers of Indian origin have died in the west on the frontlines of the pandemic, mostly in the UK Last month, a father-daughter doctor duo -- Dr Satyender Khanna and Dr Priya Khanna -- from a family of five physicians died, in the New York area, also from Covid-19. Three other physicians Drs. Ajay Lodha, Anjana Samaddar, Dr Sunil Mehra, are said to be battling for their lives.
According to AAPI, physicians of Indian-origin as a group are over-represented in all the hot spot areas as well as caring for under-served populations. Many are struggling with Green Card Backlog and are on temporary Visa plans, and due to their vulnerability, they are forced to work and often they have no choice.
"Not having adequate PPEs while caring for the Covid-19 patients, many have become positive in the process, some have died, some are in ICU now and some are recuperating at home. These are the true saviors and unsung heroes saving the lives of so many Americans. We are proud of the services of Indian American physicians in this country," the organisation said.
AAPI said there were also some proud moments for the cohort amid all the distress. Last week, Dr Uma Madhusudana, who graduated from Mysore Medical College, and is currently working in a New York Hospital treating Covid-19 patients, saving several lives was honored with a parade of more than 200 cars with recovered patients, relatives and police passed through in front of her house to express their gratitude for her services.