Dr. Gamage, widely known as the 'miracle doctor' has done over 12,000 heart surgeries.

In his letter to the Hospital Director - Dr. Shelton Perera, Dr. Gamage has noted that he has taken the above decision as germs of infected patients could infect his patients taken in for heart surgeries after being operated in the same theatres, reports say.

Hospital bigwigs not agreeing to his decision that patients with infections should not be operated in theatres where heart patients are operated is also cited as a cause, reports add.

Under this backdrop, the lives of over 1,600 heart patients in waiting lists are at risk, reports say.