In COVID-hit India, a 26-year-old doctor decides who lives and who dies

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Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor who treats patients suffering from coronavirus disease (COVID-19), poses for a photograph as he arrives for a 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. Aggarwal says he fears what will happen if he gets infected, too, knowing that his own hospital will be unlikely to find him a bed. He is unvaccinated: He was sick in January when shots for medical professionals were being rolled out, and then by February, he began to relax. "We were all under the misconception the virus had gone," he said. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor who treats patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), takes a break during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. "If a patient has a fever, and I know he's sick but he's not requiring oxygen, I can't admit him," said Aggarwal. "That's the criteria. People are dying on the streets without oxygen. So people who don't require oxygen, even if they are sick, we don't admit them usually," he added. "Another choice is I have an old male and I have a young guy. Both are requiring high-flow oxygen; I have only one bed in the ICU. And I can't be emotional at that time, that he is a father to someone. The young have to be saved." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

A poster is seen on a window at an emergency room where patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are being treated, at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), talks to the relative of a COVID-19 patient about the unavailability of beds during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. "Who to be saved, who not to be saved should be decided by God," said Aggarwal. "We are not made for that â€“ we are just humans. But at this point in time, we are being made to do this." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Relatives of Karuna Vadhera, 74, who died while suffering from complications related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), stand by her body as it is moved out of the emergency room to be taken to a crematorium, at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 2, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), eats breakfast with his colleagues inside the canteen, during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 2, 2021. Aggarwal says he fears what will happen if he gets infected, too, knowing that his own hospital will be unlikely to find him a bed. He is unvaccinated: He was sick in January when shots for medical professionals were being rolled out, and then by February, he began to relax. "We were all under the misconception the virus had gone," he said. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Relatives of a patient who is suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), argue with a police officer to admit him to the emergency ward at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), talks to a COVID-19 patient during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. "Who to be saved, who not to be saved should be decided by God," said Aggarwal. "We are not made for that â€“ we are just humans. But at this point in time, we are being made to do this." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

A woman suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is treated inside the emergency room of Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), tends to a patient inside the emergency room of Holy Family Hospital, during his 27-hour shift in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. Aggarwal says he fears what will happen if he gets infected, too, knowing that his own hospital will be unlikely to find him a bed. He is unvaccinated: He was sick in January when shots for medical professionals were being rolled out, and then by February, he began to relax. "We were all under the misconception the virus had gone," he said. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), washes his hands before having breakfast inside the canteen, during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 2, 2021. Aggarwal says he fears what will happen if he gets infected, too, knowing that his own hospital will be unlikely to find him a bed. He is unvaccinated: He was sick in January when shots for medical professionals were being rolled out, and then by February, he began to relax. "We were all under the misconception the virus had gone," he said. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

A crucifix hangs on the wall as Rohan Aggarwal (unseen), 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), eats his breakfast during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 2, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Hospital workers carry the body of a person who died from complications related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), from the ICU ward at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 2, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Image used for illustrative purpose Relatives of a woman suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), carry an oxygen cylinder as she receives treatment in the emergency room of Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), talks to a colleague while tending to a patient during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. "If a patient has a fever, and I know he's sick but he's not requiring oxygen, I can't admit him," said Aggarwal. "That's the criteria. People are dying on the streets without oxygen. So people who don't require oxygen, even if they are sick, we don't admit them usually," he added. "Another choice is I have an old male and I have a young guy. Both are requiring high-flow oxygen; I have only one bed in the ICU. And I can't be emotional at that time, that he is a father to someone. The young have to be saved." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Pratibha Rohilla who is suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), sits on a bed inside the emergency room of Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has breakfast inside the canteen during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 2, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), puts on personal protective equipment (PPE) before treating patients during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 2, 2021. "Who to be saved, who not to be saved should be decided by God," said Aggarwal. "We are not made for that â€“ we are just humans. But at this point in time, we are being made to do this." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), attends an emergency call at a ward for COVID-19 patients, during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. "If a patient has a fever, and I know he's sick but he's not requiring oxygen, I can't admit him," said Aggarwal. "That's the criteria. People are dying on the streets without oxygen. So people who don't require oxygen, even if they are sick, we don't admit them usually," he added. "Another choice is I have an old male and I have a young guy. Both are requiring high-flow oxygen; I have only one bed in the ICU. And I can't be emotional at that time, that he is a father to someone. The young have to be saved." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), tends to a patient during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. "Who to be saved, who not to be saved should be decided by God," said Aggarwal. "We are not made for that â€“ we are just humans. But at this point in time, we are being made to do this." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

A patient gestures to a colleague of Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), looks at a patient's x-ray scan, inside the emergency room of Holy Family Hospital, during his 27-hour shift in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. "Who to be saved, who not to be saved should be decided by God," said Aggarwal. "We are not made for that â€“ we are just humans. But at this point in time, we are being made to do this." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), writes down notes during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. "If a patient has a fever, and I know he's sick but he's not requiring oxygen, I can't admit him," said Aggarwal. "That's the criteria. People are dying on the streets without oxygen. So people who don't require oxygen, even if they are sick, we don't admit them usually," he added. "Another choice is I have an old male and I have a young guy. Both are requiring high-flow oxygen; I have only one bed in the ICU. And I can't be emotional at that time, that he is a father to someone. The young have to be saved." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), takes off personal protective equipment during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 2, 2021. Aggarwal says he fears what will happen if he gets infected, too, knowing that his own hospital will be unlikely to find him a bed. He is unvaccinated: He was sick in January when shots for medical professionals were being rolled out, and then by February, he began to relax. "We were all under the misconception the virus had gone," he said. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Rohan Aggarwal, 26, a resident doctor treating patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), looks at a patient's x-ray scan during his 27-hour shift at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. "If a patient has a fever, and I know he's sick but he's not requiring oxygen, I can't admit him," said Aggarwal. "That's the criteria. People are dying on the streets without oxygen. So people who don't require oxygen, even if they are sick, we don't admit them usually," he added. "Another choice is I have an old male and I have a young guy. Both are requiring high-flow oxygen; I have only one bed in the ICU. And I can't be emotional at that time, that he is a father to someone. The young have to be saved." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui