Bengaluru, NFAPost: Noted cardiac surgeon K M Cherian (Kotturathu Mammen Cherian) passed away in Bengaluru late on Saturday, states a source from Chennai. He performed India’s first coronary artery bypass surgery in 1975 at Southern Railway Headquarters hospital, Perambur, Chennai.
When this story was filed, no further details of his demise timing was received from his family. According to TheNFAPost source, the demise happened when was here on Friday (January 24) to attend a wedding function and his daughter Mrs Sandhya was with him when he collapsed. He was rushed to Manipal Hospitals, where he was declared dead at 11.45 pm.
His son Dr Sanjay Cherian is in Dubai on a short visit and is on his way back. Probably the funeral will be on the 30th January at Chennai.
K M Cherian was born on 8th March 1942 in Kayamkulam (Kerala) and started his career in Christian Medical College in Vellore as lecturer in Surgery. In 1970, he migrated to Australia. He did his FRACS in Cardiothoracic Surgery in 1973. He also worked in New Zealand and was a migrant to the United States.
He also did the first heart-lung transplant and is considered a pioneer of pediatric cardiac surgery in the country. He is also a former honorary surgeon to the President of India and a Padma Shri awardee. He is the founder of Frontier Lifeline Hospital, where he performed India’s second heart transplant surgery in 1995.
Recently, K M Cherian virtually launched his autobiography, Just an Instrument. The launch was done by former Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman S Somnath.
During his recent interaction at the Kerala Literature Festival here on Friday (January 24) about the best medical culture and work culture for medical practioners, K.M. Cherian said that a doctor should consider every patient as a member of his/her family.
He recalled how he performed heart surgeries on 20 Iraqi children and how he played the diplomat in the release of four Indian drivers who were imprisoned in Iraq. He went on to explain his association with Mother Teresa, upon whose bequest he carried out surgery on a poor boy in Kolkata at the lowest expense.
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