Famous Tamil YouTuber Irfan has written to the Tamil Nadu Health Department expressing ‘regret’ over his vlog, in which he was seen cutting the umbilical cord of his newborn child.
In a letter addressed to the Department, Irfan stated that he holds the Tamil Nadu health authorities in high regard and had no intention of causing any harm.
Irfan, who is currently abroad, emailed his regret, clarifying that he had not intended to violate any medical ethics.
Irfan, a prominent YouTuber in Tamil Nadu, posted a video in YouTube channel Irfan’s View filmed at a private hospital in Chennai. The video showed him cutting his newborn’s umbilical cord on camera, as he and his wife, Aaliya, celebrated the arrival of their first child.
The Department acted swiftly, ordering the hospital to pay a Rs 50,000 fine and suspending its operations for ten days. The Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS) also withdrew Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Sholinganallur’s Clinical Establishment Act registration, suspending all patient care activities for ten days, effective October 24.
An exception was made for pregnant women receiving continuous treatment at the hospital. Rajamoorthy, the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, explained that the registration was withdrawn under Section 5 (2) of the Tamil Nadu Private Clinical Establishments (Regulation) Act. He stated, “An operation theatre must be sterile, but Irfan took a camera inside and filmed the event. Only trained healthcare personnel are authorised to cut the umbilical cord immediately after delivery.”
It is noteworthy that Irfan had previously faced controversy after disclosing the sex of his unborn child, following a prenatal test conducted abroad. Revealing the sex of a fetus is a violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act. The State Rural Health Department has also filed a police complaint against Niveditha, the gynaecologist at the Chennai private hospital and Irfan. The YouTuber received backlash from various sources for filming the childbirth inside an operation theatre and for cutting the umbilical cord himself.
The ruling DMK, known for strictly enforcing laws against its critics, has recently faced backlash over its approach to handling YouTuber and food vlogger Mohamed Irfan. Although the party has previously arrested citizens for legal infractions, it seems to be treating Irfan differently by issuing him a show cause notice, requesting an explanation for a controversial video he posted.
Observers and political analysts suggest that influencers like Mohamed Irfan have previously helped promote DMK’s ideology within the state, particularly during election run-up.
It is noteworthy that Irfan shares a close relationship with the DMK scion. He did a public relations video with DMK scion and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in November 2022. In the video Irfan asks Udhayanidhi Stalin “You’ve become my friend now right? You’re my friend right? Give your hand bro. (shakes hand). From now on, we’re friends. Like in the film OKOK (Oru Kal Oru Kannadi starring Udhayanidhi Stalin), if I get caught by police and call you, will you help me?”
This is seen as the reason why the DMK may be hesitant to take stricter action against him.
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