Kochi, October 21: A doctor in Kerala is under the lens of the Indian Medical Association for his 2009 testimony to a Catholic Church tribunal that a new-born was cured of acute respiratory issues due to the intervention of Mariam Thresia. The ethics committee of the IMA has initiated a probe against Dr V K Sreenivasan who is a senior paediatrician at the Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur. Pope Francis declared Sister Mariam Thresia as a new Saint at the Canonisation ceremony in the Vatican earlier this month.

"IMA, which is campaigning against unscientific methods of treatment, cannot agree with the act of the doctor. IMA is not against any religion or religious belief. Even the doctor who had certified it can believe it, or not. But 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," IMA state general secretary Dr Sulphi N was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

The recovery of the child from the acute respiratory issues after his parents placed a relic of Mariam Thresia at his bed was one of the major reasons behind the Kerala nun's canonisation on October 13. Dr Sreenivasan had testified before a Church-appointed tribunal that the baby's recovery was a miracle rather than medical intervention. The baby was born on April 7, 2009, prematurely and was suffering from acute respiratory trouble. He was placed under the care of Sreenivasan at the Amala Hospital.

His parents placed a relic of Mariam Thresia at the child's bed on August 9 after the doctor informed them that chances of baby’s survival were dim. Next day, the baby was found breathing normally.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 21, 2019 12:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).