TEHRAN- On September 16, the Lancet journal published an article titled “Offline: Mahsa Amini—never forget”. The scientific journal followed in the footsteps of the Western media outlets pertaining to the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. 

The West has abandoned all professional and moral standards in facing the Iran issue. The New York Times published an article titled “Iran’s Supreme Leader Cancels Public Appearances After Falling." It was published amid the unrest in Iran in September 2022. It added that Ayatollah Khamenei was on bed rest and under observation by a team of doctors, which was just a rumor.

The Lancet, though a medical journal, narrated the death of Mahsa Amini way much different from the real story. It seems the scientific journal is following in the footsteps of the hardliners.

Ignorant of the Iranian officials’ reports, documents, CCTV cameras, and medical records, Western media outlets kept spreading rumors about her death and released fake news to provoke the Iranian people and fuel the unrest that erupted in September 2022.

It was on September 13, 2022, that Mahsa Amini was guided by morality police to pass classes since she had violated the dress code. After the end of the class, she fell down and despite her transfer to Kasra Hospital and all medical efforts, she unfortunately passed away three days later.

Based on her medical records, the CT scan of the brain and lungs, the results of physical examination of the body and autopsy, and pathology tests, the experts of the National Forensic Medicine Organization officially confirmed that Mahsa Amini's death was not due to a blow to her body.

National Forensic Medicine Organization’s report

After surgery for brain tumor craniopharyngioma at the age of 8, she suffered a disorder in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the glands under its command (including adrenal and thyroid). She was treated with hydrocortisone, levothyroxine, and desmopressin.

She suddenly lost consciousness and subsequently fell on the ground. Due to her chronic disease, she could not adapt to the situation, therefore, she suffered from heart rhythm disorder and decreased blood pressure and subsequently decreased level of consciousness due to ineffective cardiorespiratory resuscitation in the first critical minutes.

She suffered severe hypoxia and as a result brain damage, despite the recovery of cardiac function following resuscitation by emergency personnel. The respiratory support did not work, and despite the efforts of the staff of Kasra Hospital, she died due to multiple organ failure (MOF) caused by cerebral hypoxia on September 16, 2022.

Legal authorities, final word
Following the release of her medical documents and the medical records, Forensic Medicine Organization deputy chief Masoud Qadi Pasha said forensic medicine is the reference for determining the cause of people’s deaths, stressing that the examinations are carried out based on scientific standards and in accordance with the scientific resources. 

Legal authorities, based on the worldwide routine, are involved in such incidents and causes. They are the reliable sources that can prove the causes of the issues. On the other hand, doctors and scientific journals are expected not to mix medical issues with politics. This is also the case in Iran, where doctors do not pollute their profession with specific political goals.

Reza Behrouz, a specialist in cerebrovascular diseases at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that during Iran’s 2022 unrest, “We were all thirsty for media at that time,” pointing to the Western media outlets’ efforts to inflame the country’s unrest.
“I looked at the picture carefully, CT scan was normal, there was a cranial defect involving the right temporal bone that resembled the site of a previous brain surgery,” added Behrouz, a member of Iran's opposition groups.

Reactions to Mahsa Amini’s death in the West are based on false interpretations and hypotheses. They claim she was beaten, tortured, and killed by morality police. The lancet narrated the same repetitive scenario, adding more lies about Mahsa Amini's death. 

Women in Iran

Elsewhere, the Lancet points to the status of women in Iran by claiming that there is no room in the society and workplace for them.
Despite such a claim, Iranian women enjoy the same rights as men in society. Their important role has been repeatedly stressed by the country’s officials. It is better to take a look at the number of female students in Iranian universities in comparison to male students.

Iranian women’s involvement in various activities proves their undeniable role in the country. Their achievements also stem from the atmosphere for their progress as well. 
It’s been a while since the Western think tanks raised speculation and set dates for the end of the Islamic revolution. Now the Lancet should be added to the list of guessers.