Health Bulletin 29/ March/ 2024

In a tragic case of robbery turned deadly, a court handed down life imprisonment sentences to five individuals, including a woman, for the murder of an elderly couple in Sailashree Vihar back in 2015. The convicted individuals are Kishore Chandra Behera (alias Timpa), Mohammed Kamal Khan, Nini (alias Fulasari Behera), Jaban Naik, and Subhadra Jena (alias Tikina). The victims, Prafulla Chandra Mishra (73), an eye surgeon, and his wife Sushma (67), a pathologist, were discovered deceased in their home on November 15, 2015. Prafulla Chandra had been strangled, with his hands and legs bound, while Sushma had sustained severe head and neck injuries, lying in a pool of blood.

The motive behind this brutal act was determined to be robbery. The mastermind behind the plan was Tikina, who had served as the couple's maid. She enlisted the help of the other four individuals to carry out the crime. Prateek Singh, the deputy commissioner of police, highlighted the success of the prosecution in proving the charges against the accused, leading to their conviction. He also noted that within the last three months, Bhubaneswar has seen convictions in at least 28 cases.

 NMC reviews 209 applications for PG course expansions

Through a recent notice, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has informed that it has sent communications to medical colleges based on 209 more applications in respect of starting new PG medical courses and increase in seats for 2024-25.

Earlier, the apex medical regulator had sent communications in different phases for more such applications through notices dated 11th March 2024, 12th March 2024, 15th March 2024, 21st March 2024 and 26th March. These communications have been sent through the email IDs (as mentioned in the online applications) to the concerned medical institutes/colleges for information and necessary action within the stipulated timeline.

Elon Musk supports Indian-Origin doctor facing $220k in legal fees

Amidst the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill, a Canadian physician of Indian descent, found herself at the center of a storm. Her outspoken opposition to government policies regarding lockdowns and vaccination mandates catapulted her into the spotlight, but also into a legal quagmire. Facing staggering legal fees totaling CAD 300,000, Dr. Gill's financial stability crumbled under the weight of legal challenges, media scrutiny, and professional investigations.

In a gesture of solidarity, Elon Musk stepped forward, pledging his support to cover her expenses. Dr. Gill's journey was fraught with obstacles – from backlash in mainstream media to censorship on social platforms like Twitter, and even disciplinary actions from regulatory bodies. Despite these hardships, her resolve remained unshaken.

Some users echoed Munjal's sentiments, highlighting the importance of merit-based admissions and the role of standardized exams in ensuring fairness. Others criticized the exams, arguing that they are inherently biased and fail to accurately gauge individual abilities. Amidst the exchange of opinions, one user suggested refraining from engaging with Munjal's critic, emphasizing the significance of the burgeoning field of educational technology (Edtech).