"Chain Death" of Specialized Medical Students in Iran

Following the announcement of the consecutive deaths of specialized medical students (residents) in Iran, two officials from medical institutions in Iran, in an interview with the Rokna News Agency, reported that these students suffered "a lot of psychological damage" and said that the cause of these deaths "is under investigation."

Ali Nikjoo, a psychiatrist and member of the Central Council of the Islamic Medical Association of Iran, attributed the cause of these "chain" deaths to suicide on Twitter, writing that "The serial suicides of residents are a painful tragedy. The national capital of this country is either gone, or crumpled in a corner, or they are enduring a life that is harder than ever with their teeth and claws, or they are ending their lives in such a tragic way. Death is no longer our business these days; it has become our life itself. Despair! Despair!"

Following messages like this, officials were asked about the matter, and according to the public relations director of the Iranian Medical System Organization, "accurate information has not yet been completed and investigations into these deaths are ongoing."

According to a report by the Rokna News Agency, "job discrimination and drug use" are among the causes of the death of these students.

Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, Secretary General of the Iranian Nursing Home, confirmed the suspicious deaths of several specialized medical students in recent weeks and said that "medical investigations must be conducted into the main cause of the consecutive deaths of residents, and until the final announcement of the investigations, the exact cause of death cannot be stated, but it can be predicted that drug overdose or suicide could be the cause of death of these individuals."

The Secretary General of the nursing home also said that "long working hours, high pressure to complete training, and of course very low salaries of between 2 and 3 million Tomans, cause a lot of psychological damage to residents, and this sometimes leads them to drug use. In addition, many cases of drug use have been observed among this group."

According to Mr. Sharifi Moghadam, these people have no guardian to protect their rights and are discriminated against by the Medical System Organization compared to specialist doctors.

Hossein Kermanpour, the public relations director of the Medical System Organization, however, said that the number of drug users among medical staff is not high enough to say that these people who died in succession were under the influence of drugs. A detailed, scientific, and specialized investigation should be conducted.

Source: Radio Farda