Odisha: Doctor uses salt in cancer therapy, lands in soup

Sambalpur: VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research director Ashwini Pujahari is in trouble for allegedly resorting to unproven therapies to treat patients. A video showing him using edible salt on a cancer-affected patient during surgery has gone viral on social media.

The Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) has demanded immediate removal of Dr Pujahari for such unproven treatment, which allegedly led to the death of the patient.

The JDA alleged that Dr Pujahari used table salt to treat a cancer patient who subsequently died.

The JDA has also filed a police complaint against Dr Pujahari.

“There is no reference in books regarding such type of treatments and we have evidence that the patient on whom edible salt was used during surgery died,” said JDA me-mber, Priyambad Sahu.

“We have not heard or read about use of salt to kill cells. Such act of Pujahari is absolutely un-ethical, inhuman and cri-minal negligence,” rued doctor Jyotirmaya Nayak.

Not only salt therapy, another video of Dr Pujahari violently patting on back of a patient, similar to that of playing a tabla, is also doing rounds on social media.

VIMSAR director Ashiwini Pujahari, on the other hand, refuted such allegations.

“All the salt was duly removed through suction method and the patient on which it was used hails from Chhattisgarh. The patient is absolutely fine and will be visiting the hospital in the next 10 to 15 days,” said Dr Pujahari.