Surat-based doctor, who removed his oxygen support to help elderly patient, feeling 'fine' after 90-day hospitalisation

Surat-based Dr Sanket Mehta, who risked his life to intubate a COVID-19 patient, is “fine” and has booked his plane tickets to fly back home from Chennai on 1 November after being hospitalized for over 90 days for treatment of the deadly infection. Mehta, who had tested positive for the virus, shot to fame when he removed his oxygen support to help another elderly COVID patient despite being in ‘critical condition’ at a hospital in Surat where he was treated for 45 days. He was airlifted to Chennai on 13 September since his health condition worsened but now it has improved and he is breathing normally, doctors treating him at MGM Healthcare said on Tuesday. MGM Healthcare clinical director and consultant, Apar Jindal said he was brought in with lungs heavily damaged by COVID-19. “Since beginning his treatment here, his lungs have shown remarkable improvement and he is now breathing naturally. We are glad to have nursed a hero and a Corona warrior like Dr Mehta back to good health,” he said. When reporters sought to know how he was, Mehta, who was seen sitting in his bed during the press conference, showed the ’thumbs up’ sign and said “I am fine” in a feeble voice. Asked what inspired him to remove his oxygen support to extend support to the elderly patient, he said, “it is (the) duty of a doctor (to save a patient’s life.