YouTuber Irfan Row: TN Suspends Pvt Hospital Licence For 10 Days Over Unauthorised Access To OT

YouTuber Irfan Row: On Wednesday, DMS withdrew the hospital’s registration under the Clinical Establishment Act, barring it from patient care activities, effective from October 24.

YouTuber Irfan Row: The Tamil Nadu Health Department has suspended a private hospital's patient care activities for 10 days after a viral video showed popular YouTuber Irfan entering an operation theatre and cutting the umbilical cord of his newborn. The incident took place at Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Sholinganallur, Chennai, and prompted swift action from the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS).

On Wednesday, DMS withdrew the hospital’s registration under the Clinical Establishment Act, barring it from patient care activities, effective from October 24, as per a report on Deccan Herald. The hospital is only permitted to continue treating antenatal patients already under its care. In addition, the hospital was fined Rs 50,000 for allowing a non-professional into a restricted area.

The controversy erupted after Irfan's video, which featured his wife's delivery at the hospital, went viral, amassing over 3.3 million views by October 21. The footage showed the YouTuber inside the operation theatre, where he was seen cutting the umbilical cord, an act typically reserved for medical professionals. After the video caught the attention of health authorities, it was taken down from social media platforms.

J Rajamoorthy, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, issued the suspension order. The situation further escalated with a complaint being lodged against the attending physician, Dr. Niveditha, who allegedly permitted Irfan's involvement in the procedure, reported India Today. The complaint, filed with the State Medical Council, raised questions about the doctor’s professional conduct.

Commenting on the issue, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian criticised the incident, calling Irfan’s actions “offensive” and a clear violation of medical protocols under the National Medical Commission Act, 2021, as per the report. The Minister confirmed that a formal complaint had been filed with the Semmanjeri Police Station against both the YouTuber and the doctor involved.