Cardiac surgeon Dr John K Vettath, who did Kerala’s first heart surgery, passes away at 97
Cardiac surgeon Dr John K Vettath, who did Kerala’s first heart surgery, passes away at 97
Dr John K Vettath, a numero uno cardiac surgeon who performed Kerala’s first heart surgery way back in 1960s, breathed his last on Tuesday,
9 April. He was 97.
A native of Mullanthuruthy in Ernakulam, Dr Vettath served at CMC Ludhiana, MGDM Hospital, Kangazha, Medical Mission Hospital, Kolenchery, and Lourdes Hospital, Kochi, before he took retirement “from surgery when he was 70 and not from life. He spent 46 years
caring for the sick.
He was honoured with the Indian Medical Association Award and Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Surgeons of India for his exceptional contribution to the Art and Science of retirement from the field of surgery.
Dr Vettath is survived by his wife Dr Naomi J. Vettath, a leading ophthalmologist, children Dr Mary Varghese, Ann Kurien, Mathew Vettath, Susan Koshy, sons-in-law Dr Kiron Varghese, Kurien Abraham, Koshy Oommen and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Mathew.
It is learnt that the funeral service will begin at his residence (‘Vettath’, Azad Road, Kaloor) at 9 am on Wednesday and his body will be laid to rest at the cemetery (Eloor) of the
St George Orthodox Valiyapally, Palarivattom, after prayers at the church at 10 am.
RIP Dr John K Vettath
News Edit K.V.Raman
