Chennai Loses Young Cardiologist Dr. Devan R to Cardiac Arrest Amid Surge of On-Duty Doctor Deaths

Chennai’s medical community has suffered another loss: Dr. Devan R a 42-year-old associate professor in cardiology at Manakula Vinayagar Medical College, died of a cardiac arrest. He passed away on August 31 at JIPMER Hospital, where he had been admitted following the emergency episode.

Dr. Devan’s death marks the fourth doctor to die within a week from cardiac issues. Recent similar incidents include Dr. Gradlin Roy, a 39-year-old cardiac surgeon at Saveetha Medical College, Dr. Gaurav Mittal, a 39-year-old critical care specialist, and Dr. Prakash Gupta, a 40-year-old anesthesia specialist in Jodhpur.

These consecutive losses have sparked serious concern across India’s healthcare system.

MedBound Times reported on the recent death of Dr. Gradlin Roy, a cardiac surgeon from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Dr. Gradlin Roy, 39, collapsed and died of a massive heart attack while on ward rounds at work. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts including CPR, a coronary stent, an intra-aortic balloon pump, and ECMO the complete blockage in a coronary artery proved fatal.

Experts attribute these sudden deaths to prolonged work hours, chronic stress, unhealthy lifestyle habits, inadequate rest, and skipped medical check-ups. Medical professionals often endure 12–18 hour shifts, sometimes exceeding 24 hours. These conditions may increase risk for acute cardiac events, even in younger clinicians.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) have noted that excessive working hours and workplace stress contribute substantially to global heart disease and stroke rates.

As grief spreads across the medical fraternity, the call for urgent systemic change grows louder. Ensuring sustainable workloads, structured rest periods, access to wellness resources, and culturally accepted self-care routines may be critical steps to safeguard doctors’ health.

A study published in International Journal of Cardiology Sciences by Amandeep Singh and Gagandeep Singh, recent evidence underscores a concerning public health trend: sudden cardiac death (SCD) is on the rise among Indians under 40. A descriptive study reviewed medical records, government data, and prior research to identify key contributing factors. It found that a combination of genetic predispositions, undiagnosed heart conditions, sedentary lifestyles, and substance misuse significantly increases the risk of cardiac arrest in young individuals. The authors recommend early screening programs and public awareness campaigns to mitigate this growing health crisis.

Reference:

1. Singh, Amandeep, and Gagandeep Singh. “A Public Health Concern: The Increasing Rate of Cardiac Arrest among Young Indians.” International Journal of Cardiology Sciences 7, no. 1B (2025): 158–159. https://doi.org/10.33545/26649020.2025.v7.i1b.107.

(Rh/Eth/TL/MSM)