The Kerala chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has launched a probe against a doctor in the state, who claimed that divine intervention of Mariam Thresia, a Keralite nun who was elevated to sainthood recently, cured an infant.
According to media reports, the Ethics Committee of IMA is investigating the claim of Dr V.K. Sreenivasan, a paediatrician at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences in Thrissur district, that Mariam Thresia was instrumental in the cure of a prematurely born infant who was suffering from acute respiratory failure in 2009. After the doctor certified this as a 'miracle', the nun's eligibility to be raised to sainthood was upheld by Vatican.
The IMA sought an explanation from Dr Sreenivasan over his claim, News Minute reported.
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The doctor's claim had already enraged the medical community in the state and he was accused of spreading pseudoscience. A Facebook post by Dr Sulphi Noohu, secretary, Kerala chapter of IMA, in which he asked Dr Sreenivasan to substantiate his claim of 'miraculous healing' with scientific evidence had gone viral. According to Hindustan Times, Dr Noohu said the doctor community is not against belief and added that they do respect the belief systems of everyone. “But what we oppose is the stamp of approval for a miracle. If somebody says prayers fully cured one, it is difficult to comprehend for the medical community," he was quoted as saying.
Dr Noohu told The Indian Express that IMA, which is which is campaigning against unscientific methods of treatment, cannot agree with the act of Dr Dr Sreenivasan. "...When he uses the title of a doctor to testify, there should be scientific evidence. If his explanation is not satisfactory, we can refer the matter to the ethics committee of Travancore-Cochin Medical Council for further action,” Dr Noohu was quoted as saying.
While Dr Sreenivasan hasn't come out with a comment to defend his stance, the Church said it did not want to intervene and left it to the doctor himself to defend his claim of miracle.