Dr Hope: Meet the 24-Yr-Old Who Donated Blood to Critical Patient, Then Performed Emergency Surgery

If there’s one thing that 2020 has proved, it’s that real world superheroes are more likely to wear a doctor’s coat than a cape. Throughout the pandemic, stories have emerged of doctors going to great lengths to protect those in their care, facing the threat of infection and violence from patients and their relatives with equal resolve. Yet another doctor proved the truth of this in Delhi, as he went above and beyond the call of duty to help his patient. Twenty-four-year-old Mohd Fawaz, a junior resident doctor with the department of surgery at All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in New Delhi, is receiving much praise for donating blood to a critical patient, before performing surgery on him only hours later.

Doctors Beyond Duty

AIIMS surgeon, Dr Mohd Fawaz first donated blood to his severely ill patient (in absence of a relative who could help), then rushed him to the OT and performed an emergency surgery. pic.twitter.com/JZh1g9LOoE

— Runjhun Sharma (@Runjhunsharmas) July 22, 2020

On Tuesday, July 21, Dr Fawaz received a patient suffering from septic shock due to an infection in his left leg. It was clear that there was an urgent need to operate upon the leg, but the patient’s haemoglobin levels were too low. As the patient’s wife was not medically cleared to donate her blood, and waiting for other donors would take too long, Dr Fawaz donated his own blood along with more units from the blood bank. In a report in The Indian Express, Dr Fawaz said that the patient had to be put on a ventilator and given several transfusions.

Dr Mohd Fawaz of AIIMS said that the 30-year-old patient had come to the emergency on Tuesday and was suffering from septic shock due to infection in the lower left leg.https://t.co/4VGaMScSqs

— The Logical Indian (@LogicalIndians) July 23, 2020

Dr Fawaz’s good deed was rewarded by the patient’s conditions stabilising enough for a team of doctors including Fawaz to perform the operation in time. “For a doctor, the main aim is to save the lives of patients. Every patient visiting the hospital should be treated with the best of efforts,” said Fawaz.

For a doctor, the main aim is to save the lives of patients. Every patient visiting the hospital should be treated with the best of efforts,”@drharshvardhan
AIIMS doctor donates blood to critical patient, then dons gown for surgery https://t.co/n5EbUE634b via @IndianExpress

— Dr. Vijay Gurjar (@docvjg) July 23, 2020

After news reports of Dr Fawaz’s selfless action appeared in the media, he was celebrated. Users on social media hailed him as the embodiment of spirit of service all doctors should strive toward. His colleagues from AIIMS were among those singing his praises.

AIIMS Resident doctor first donated blood to a critical patient, then dons gown for surgery. #COVID19 @narendramodi @drharshvardhanhttps://t.co/TgT0qpM2t1

— Dr Jawahar Singh MD (@DrJawahars) July 23, 2020

Whether it’s fighting the pandemic or performing crucial surgeries despite adverse circumstances, the medical community is full of unsung heroes like Dr Fawaz.