Pepper spray does not directly cause heart attacks: IGMH

Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has said pepper spray cannot directly cause a heart attack, after a man was hospitalized following an opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rally on Friday night.

MDP Hulhumale' Central Vice President Mohamed Raslaan suffered a heart attack during the protest and was admitted to IGMH’s ICU. He has since been transferred to the hospital’s CCU, and doctors say he is in stable condition.

Heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart is blocked, most commonly due to blood clots and pre-existing health conditions.

“Although pepper spray causes temporary difficulty in breathing, coughing and other stress responses, pepper spray does not directly cause a heart attack,” the hospital said.

IGMH said that stressors can trigger heart hearts in people with underlying conditions.

Three police officers injured during the protest had received treatment.

Police have been accused of using excessive force to disperse the demonstration, including the deployment of a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD). Several protesters later reported health issues allegedly linked to the device.

MDP lawyers said the use of the LRAD was unlawful as there are no guidelines permitting its deployment. Police, however, maintained in a statement that officers acted within the powers granted by the Police Service Act and related regulations.

The protest at Artificial Beach ended with the arrest of 15 people, out of which seven people where remanded for 15 days.