Outrage in UP: Doctor Allegedly Makes 5-Year-Old Smoke for Cold Treatment—Inquiry Underway

Viral video shows UP doctor making a 5-year-old smoke as cold remedy

High angle view of a stethoscope and cigarettes on a white background

In several rural regions of India, traditional healers have been reported to administer dangerous home remedies to children. The Indian Pediatrics Journal noted that 20% of pediatric poisoning cases in rural India involved traditional or "herbal" treatments.Representative Image: FreePik

Published on:

18 Apr 2025, 7:30 am

A shocking video from the Jalaun district in Uttar Pradesh has caused widespread public anger. The video, which went viral on social media, features a doctor urging a five-year-old boy to smoke cigarettes as an unusual and risky remedy for the common cold.

The concerned doctor, Dr Suresh Chandra, was deployed at the Central Health Centre in Kuthaund, Uttar Pradesh. The video reveals him smoking a cigarette and making the child smoke it over and over again, inviting widespread criticism from the public and the medical fraternity.

Health department takes swift action

After the video went viral, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Narendra Dev Sharma took immediate action. Dr. Chandra has been reassigned to the district headquarters, and a thorough investigation is currently underway.

Dr. Sharma emphasized that an official investigation was initiated on March 28, shortly after the video went viral on the internet. The investigation is being conducted by Additional CMO Dr. S.D. Chaudhary has been directed to submit a detailed report to the state government.

Medical Community and Public React with Shock

The video has invited harsh criticism, particularly in light of the tender age of the victim and the noxious effects of tobacco smoke, particularly on children. Experts and activists are calling for stern disciplinary action against Dr. Chandra, with many asking how such an act can be justified or even thought of as a treatment method.

Close-Up Photography of a Person Holding Cigarette

Secondhand smoke causes over 1.2 million premature deaths annually, according to the WHO, with 65,000 of those deaths among children under 5. In low- and middle-income countries, over 40% of children are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke at home. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2022) revealed that about 10% of school-going children globally (ages 13–15) currently use tobacco productsRepresentative Image: Pexels

Strict Measures Promised

Reacting to the public outcry, Dr. Sharma reassured citizens that such actions would not be tolerated.

This kind of incident will not be tolerated in the district. We have issued strict instructions to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Dr. Sharma, Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

Authorities have pledged to act properly once the inquiry is concluded, to regain public confidence in public health care and maintain ethical standards at every level of treatment.

A wake-up call for healthcare oversight

The case has not only stunned the country but has also raised critical questions regarding monitoring, training, and accountability within the rural healthcare system. With the case unfolding, most hope that the case will be an important reminder of accountability.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)

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Smoking

Uttar Pradesh

Jalaun district

Outrage in UP: Doctor Allegedly Makes 5-Year-Old Smoke for Cold Treatment—Inquiry Underway

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