International   

Top U.S. cardiac surgeon ends life

LITTLE ROCK (Arkansas): A well-known U.S. heart surgeon has killed himself after writing a suicide note in which he complained, ``The world is not ready for me.'' Dr. Jonathan Drummond-Webb (45), was chief of paediatric and congenital cardiac surgery at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Last year, he performed the first successful implant of a life-saving miniature heart pump in a child. In his five-page handwritten suicide note, he railed against some of his colleagues at Arkansas Children's Hospital and at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio where he worked before he came to Arkansas. ``Every day is my living hell'' read the note. ``These people don't care. I have a gift to save babies. The world is not ready for me.'' He made it clear that he had taken his own life and did not want his body autopsied. No autopsy was performed, but blood and urine samples were taken for tests. The surgeon was a proponent for organ donation, but the way he committed suicide did not allow his organs to be harvested. He wrote on his arm in ink, ``No post-mortem.'' And the note went on, ``To the Coroner, I took an overdose and there is no need to violate my body.'' — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Surge in Iraq violence as poll nears
Blair dismisses illness speculation
U.N. launches $1-billion relief effort
Bar on scientists
Whitbread list
Internet scams begin cashing in
Fresh Guantanamo probe
Japan offers Asian nations early warning system
Top U.S. cardiac surgeon ends life
Natwar holds talks with Wen Jiabao

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu