Authors
A post-graduate in Mass Communication, Ram has an experience of 8 years in the field of Media. He has worked for radio, television, e-commerce. Appalled by the spread of fake news and disinformation, he found it both challenging and satisfying to bring out the truth and nullify the effects of fake news in society.
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
AIIMS doctors pay their respects to CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, whose body was donated for medical research.
Fact
Viral image dates back to 2016, shows Chinese doctors paying their respects to a fellow doctor and organ donor after he died of brain aneurysm.
The body of veteran CPI(M) leader, Sitaram Yechury, who died last Thursday after battling a lung infection, was donated to the AIIMS, New Delhi on Saturday (September 14) for medical research, following which a photo went viral purportedly showing AIIMS doctors and other staff paying their respects to the leader.
“What a remarkable gesture by doctors of #AIIMS #Delhi. Honouring organ donor #SitaramYechury with a last salute acknowledges the immense contribution by giving others a second chance at life. Gautam Haldhar had grabbed and shared this picture,” read one such X post, sharing the picture. The archived version of the post can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker ran a reverse image search, which led us to an uncropped version of the viral photo featured in a Beijing-based CGTN report, dated September 30, 2016, headlined, ”Chinese doctor dies while volunteering in Tibet, donates his organs.”
“Zhao Ju, a 41-year-old doctor from east China’s Anhui Province, volunteered to work in Shannan, Tibet Autonomous Region with a group of other doctors two months ago… he was found to have a brain aneurysm, the rupture of which led to his death. Zhao’s family respected his noble last wishes and donated his kidneys, liver and corneas. Fellow doctors were pictured paying their respects to Zhao with deep bows at a hospital in Hefei City, the capital of Anhui Province. And netizens were quick to pay tribute online to a man who showed such selfless devotion to helping others,” read the report. The media outlet’s Facebook page, too, posted the photo.
Similar reports can be seen here and here, confirming that the viral image is not from AIIMS nor related to Sitaram Yechury’s death.
Conclusion
Old image of doctors paying their respects to a colleague who donated his organs after his death at a hospital in China falsely shared as AIIMS doctors saluting CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.
Result: False
Sources
Report from CGTN, dated September 30, 2016
Facebook post from CGTN, dated September 30, 2016
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates.
Authors
A post-graduate in Mass Communication, Ram has an experience of 8 years in the field of Media. He has worked for radio, television, e-commerce. Appalled by the spread of fake news and disinformation, he found it both challenging and satisfying to bring out the truth and nullify the effects of fake news in society.
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
