Experts have learned a lot about the coronavirus in the months since it emerged, but one thing has been clear from the very beginning: elderly people are among the most high risk for the virus. Dr. Christian Chenay is well aware of this but doesn’t let his risk stand in the way of his patient’s care.
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At 98 years old, Dr. Chenay is the oldest practicing doctor in France, and his office is located around low-income areas of Paris so he can provide care to people who may otherwise not have access to quality healthcare. Under normal circumstances, his office’s waiting room is usually packed full of people who are eager to see him.
When quarantine started, Dr. Chenay’s office was closed down in order to keep everyone safe. He could have easily taken the opportunity to retire and ride out the pandemic in peace, but instead he kept working. He’s now providing telehealth consultations to the majority of his patients but is also visiting nursing homes every week to meet with them in person.
Being high risk herself, Dr. Chenay’s wife wasn’t exactly thrilled with his decision because she was scared he’d bring the virus home. While he agreed this was certainly a risk, he told BBC, “I just can’t abandon [my patients] in the midst of this virus epidemic.”
Given the circumstances, and the fact that Dr. Chenay is nearing 99 years old, no one would blame him if he opted to retire. But, for now, he’s still going strong. He admits he works slower than he used to, but it’s clear that his dedication to his patients helps keep him going.
Watch Dr. Chenay’s interview with BBC in the video below and if you want to bring a smile to someone’s face, share this story with them!
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