The Treating Doctor of Abbas Kiarostami Committed 'Professional Misconduct'

Siamak Marehsedgh, a supervisor from the Health and Treatment Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, has described the absence of the main treating physician throughout the treatment of Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami as 'professional misconduct.' According to a report on Saturday, August 14, Mr. Marehsedgh stated that Abbas Kiarostami suffered from bleeding complications after a polyp removal surgery, 'but the second surgery to control the bleeding was performed with a three-day delay.' This parliamentary representative also mentioned that 'the absence of the main treating physician during the entire treatment alongside the patient' constitutes 'professional misconduct.' Mr. Marehsedgh explained: 'The treating physician traveled after the first surgery, which is not acceptable according to medical principles.' However, he also stated that 'none of these reasons played a decisive role in the patient's death.' Ahmad Mir, from Jam Hospital in Tehran, has been named as the main treating physician of Mr. Kiarostami. This parliamentary representative further mentioned in his conversation with House of Nation that Kiarostami's medical file from France had not reached the Iranian Medical System by noon on August 14. However, another parliament member, Rasoul Khazari, denied this issue, stating that Kiarostami's medical file from France 'has arrived and is now complete.' Mr. Khazari emphasized: 'We are now waiting for the verdict from the Medical System Organization. It should also not be overlooked that most problems in the medical process occurred in Iran, not in France.' Abbas Kiarostami, a renowned Iranian filmmaker worldwide, passed away on July 4 while he was in France for further treatment. The death of Mr. Kiarostami and the publication of details regarding his treatment process in Iran sparked angry reactions among the public and cultural figures. For instance, Dariush Mehrjui, another famous filmmaker, described Kiarostami's doctors as 'murderers.' A commission has been established to investigate potential negligence in Kiarostami's treatment process. Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Iran's Minister of Health, recently emphasized in a letter to the head of the Medical System Organization that the results of this case should be announced 'as soon as possible.' The Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) also reported that Ahmad Kiarostami, the late filmmaker's son, announced that 'a foundation' will be established in memory of his father and his works.