39-Year-Old Chennai Cardiac Surgeon Dies Of Heart Attack While On Hospital Duty

Last Updated:August 30, 2025, 12:06 IST

The doctor, identified as Dr Gradlin Roy, was conducting his hospital rounds when he suffered the fatal cardiac arrest

Dr Gradlin Roy | Image: X

A 39-year-old cardiac surgeon collapsed and died of a heart attack while on duty at Saveetha Medical College in Chennai on Wednesday, said officials.

The doctor, identified as Dr Gradlin Roy, was conducting his hospital rounds when he suffered the fatal cardiac arrest. Despite immediate intervention by colleagues, he could not be revived.

Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar shared details of the efforts on X, writing: “Colleagues fought valiantly — CPR, urgent angioplasty with stenting, intra-aortic balloon pump, even ECMO. But nothing could reverse the damage from a massive cardiac arrest due to a 100% left main artery blockage.”

“When the Healer Falls: A Wake-Up Call for Doctors’ Heart Health,” he added.

Dr Kumar also noted that this was “not an isolated case” but part of a troubling pattern of young doctors — often in their 30s and 40s — succumbing to sudden heart attacks.

Dr. Roy is survived by his wife and young son.

Stress, Long Hours Blamed

Dr Kumar noted that the medical profession itself poses multiple risk factors.

“The irony is stark: those who dedicate their lives to saving others’ hearts are often neglecting their own,” he said.

Long working hours, often 12 to 18 hours a day, sometimes exceeding 24-hour shifts, combined with chronic stress, poor eating habits, irregular sleep, and lack of exercise, contribute significantly to cardiac risk.

Doctors also face relentless psychological strain from life-or-death decision-making, heavy patient loads, and medico-legal pressures.

Many neglect their own health check-ups while treating others. Burnout, anxiety, and depression are additional risks that often go unaddressed.

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