A heavily-pregnant doctor has shared an emotional video to her unborn child 'just in case' she dies of COVID-19 before the baby is...
A heavily-pregnant doctor has shared an emotional video to her unborn child 'just in case' she dies of COVID-19 before the baby is born.
Dr Meenal Viz, a clinical fellow in medicine based in London, posted the moving footage to her social media accounts, showing images of life before and during the pandemic.
Dr Viz, along with her husband GP trainee Dr Nishant Joshi, is bringing a legal challenge against the Government over the lawfulness of current guidance and a failure to source PPE for NHS staff. The couple have brought a complaint against the Department of Health and Public Health England.
In her video, Dr Viz, who is seven months pregnant and currently working from home, says: 'Dear Radhika, in just 63 days this is going to be your new home. I hope I get to show it you, my favourite places, and all my favourite people.
'You see you're arriving at a very difficult time, people are dying, the world is at war, and the people on the frontlines aren't soldiers. They're people like your dad and people like me. So I'm leaving you this message just in case.'
Dr Meenal Viz, a clinical fellow in medicine based in London, posted the moving footage to her social media accounts, showing images of life before and during the pandemic. It also shared an ultrasound image of her baby (pictured)
So far, the couple's fundraising Crowdjustice page has raised £36,313, while Meenal's Instagram post was liked more than 200 times and her tweet received 1,000 likes. The pair pictured together
A heavily-pregnant doctor (pictured) has shared an emotional video to her unborn child 'just in case' as she works on the NHS frontline fighting the coronavirus
Snaps at the end of the clip read: 'Our nhs workers are dying. Help Meenal challenge the Government for better PPE,' while a link to the couple's fundraising page was shared in the caption.
So far, the couple's page has raised £36,313, while Meenal's Instagram post was liked more than 200 times and her tweet received 1,000 likes.
Sharing the footage, Meenal wrote: 'I'm a pregnant frontline doctor. #ClapForCarers is great, but for me it's not enough.'
Meenal and her husband (pictured together) say they have been exposed to patients with coronavirus and challenge the lawfulness of current PPE guidance on when and how equipment is used, as well as its availability
Meenal and her husband say they have been exposed to patients with coronavirus and challenge the lawfulness of current PPE guidance on when and how equipment is used, as well as its availability.
The mother-to-be appeared on Good Morning Britain this morning after their pre-action letter was announced yesterday.
The couple are challenging the guidance on the basis that it differs from both World Health Organisation guidelines and the UK's own health and safety legislation.
Last month, Meenal held a placard outside Downing Street in protest of the current guidance, which her and her husband argue is unclear.
Meenal holds a banner as she protests outside Downing Street in London on April 19, 2020
The couple said it exposes healthcare workers to a higher risk of contracting the virus, and does not address increased risks to BAME people in the field.
They added that the guidance does not make clear that healthcare workers have a right to refuse to work without adequate PPE.
The two doctors are calling for an review of the guidance and confirmation from Health Secretary Matt Hancock that the Government is urgently sourcing more equipment.
Meenal appeared on Good Morning Britain last month after the couple's pre-action letter against the Department of Health and Public Health England was announced
Nishant (pictured), who works at Luton and Dunstable general hospital, first spoke out about the issue last month, and is now challenging the Government's guidance with his wife
In a statement they said: 'We are incredibly concerned at the ever-growing numbers of healthcare workers who are becoming seriously unwell and dying due to coronavirus.
'It is the Government's duty to protect its healthcare workers, and there is great anxiety amongst staff with regards to safety protocols that seem to change without rhyme or reason.
'Every time a healthcare worker becomes hospitalised with Covid-19, it exacts an extraordinary toll on our friends, family and colleagues.
'To sedate and ventilate your own colleague takes a mental toll on the entire workforce. The Government needs to protect us, so that we can protect you.'
More than 300 NHS and social care workers have died after contracting Covid-19.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) told the BBC it could not comment on pending or potential legal action.
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