Staff ReportMedical professionals operating within the Iranian capital have begun to break their silence regarding a systematic campaign by security forces to interfere with the treatment of wounded demonstrators. According to multiple testimonies from surgeons and emergency room staff, the presence of plainclothes officers within hospital corridors has transformed sterile medical environments into extensions of the state security apparatus. This intervention has reportedly created a climate of fear that prevents many injured individuals from seeking life-saving treatment.
Doctors working in Tehran describe a harrowing reality where security agents frequently demand the identification of patients arriving with injuries consistent with protests, such as pellet wounds or respiratory distress from tear gas. In many instances, agents have reportedly removed patients from wards before their treatments were completed, or even pressured medical staff to falsify records to hide the true nature of the injuries. This direct interference not only violates established international humanitarian norms but also places medical professionals in an impossible ethical position between their Hippocratic Oath and the threat of state retaliation.
One trauma surgeon, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, noted that the hospital where he works has been under constant surveillance for several weeks. He explained that security forces often station themselves at the triage desk, effectively vetting every person who enters the emergency department. This has led to a surge in clandestine medical care, with doctors and nurses reportedly treating patients in private homes or makeshift clinics to avoid the risk of certain arrest at state facilities. These underground operations, while courageous, often lack the specialized equipment necessary for complex surgeries, leading to preventable long-term disabilities among the youth.
The impact on public health goes beyond the immediate physical injuries. International human rights observers suggest that the weaponization of healthcare is being used as a tool to demoralize the opposition. When the hospital becomes a place of potential capture rather than a place of healing, the social contract between the state and its citizens is fundamentally severed. Reports indicate that even ambulances have been intercepted by security forces, with some vehicles allegedly being used to transport arrested protesters rather than medical patients, further eroding trust in the emergency response system.
Global medical associations have started to voice their alarm over these developments. They argue that the neutrality of healthcare must be respected even during times of intense civil unrest. The World Medical Association and other international bodies have previously emphasized that physicians must never be punished for providing care to those in need, regardless of their political affiliations or the circumstances of their injuries. However, in Tehran, the reality remains starkly different as the line between law enforcement and medical administration continues to blur.
As the situation persists, the long-term consequences for the Iranian healthcare system remain a point of grave concern. The psychological toll on medical staff is immense, with many reporting symptoms of secondary trauma and extreme professional burnout. Furthermore, the precedent of allowing security forces to dictate medical outcomes could have lasting effects on how hospitals operate in the country for years to come. For now, the doctors of Tehran continue to navigate a dangerous landscape, attempting to save lives while evading the watchful eyes of those who view their patients as enemies of the state.
