Two top doctors die in south — hours apart

Dr Andrew Yiphoi’s body was discovered on Wednesday morning at his home in Sumadh Gardens, while Dr Ivan Perot died on Wednesday evening at his home in Sumadh Gardens.

Dr Perot, specialist cardiologist, and Dr Yiphoi, urologist and former Medical Chief of Staff of the San Fernando General Hospital, both passed away peacefully in their sleep. They also worked at the Victoria Nursing Home, Vistabella.

Yiphoi, who had a large private medical practise at the Victoria Nursing home, was uncharacteristically late for his morning appointments. His secretary alerted the medical centre’s staff who telephoned the doctor’s Montano Street, home.

Two male employees subsequently visited Yiphoi’s home where they reportedly observed the doctor’s car parked in the driveway.

With the assistance of a retired policeman, the door to the house was broken down. Yiphoi, who was said to be in his late seventies, was sitting on a couch in front of the television. He was dead. The television was on.

Dr Ivan Perot had reportedly visited Yiphoi’s home early Wednesday morning. From there he went to his private practice at Victoria Nursing Home. He returned to his Wahid Circular Drive home at about 5 pm. Perot’s wife, Aniza Grace, said that her husband was preparing to attend a medical meeting in Miami to discuss the upcoming Caribbean Conference of Cardiologists carded for July 21.

Grace, said Perot who would have celebrated his 71st birthday on July 25, did not complain of any ailment.

He had only minutes before spoken to his daughter, Jasmine, who briefly returned to Trinidad for the summer vacation and to celebrate her 23rd birthday on Tuesday. Grace said that Perot went to the upstairs bedroom, but when she called out to him sometime later, she got no response. The wife said when she went to check on Perot, he was lying motionless on the bed.

Grace, a registered nurse, said she checked her husband’s pulse but got none. She alerted Perot’s son, Sean, who is also a medical doctor. Sean, who immediately rushed to his father’s house, examined Perot and pronounced him dead.

Perot leaves to mourn three children - Sean, Shivan and Jasmine. The funeral is tentatively carded for next week Tuesday.

San Fernando West MP Diane Seukeran, who described Dr Perot as a gifted heart specialist, said: "He was a social worker and businessman, whose heart was so big that it reached out and covered you with warmth."

Perot was an active member of the Chest and Heart Foundation, a politician who once led the — Liberation Action Party.

Medical Professionals Association of TT yesterday expressed sadness on the deaths of both doctors.

Yiphoi was the former medical chief of staff of the San Fernando General Hospital from 1982 to 1992. He was a senior member of the team of physicians and urologist who teamed up with foreign doctors to perform this country’s first kidney transplant. Yiphoi was an avid painter.

At the time of his death, Yiphoi was alone in the house, his wife having gone abroad.