6 orthopaedic resident doctors of Bhavnagar medical college suspended over alleged ragging

Rajkot: Taking note of ragging and harassment allegations raised by first-year postgraduate resident doctors, the administration of Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, suspended six resident doctors from the Orthopaedics Department of the institute.

The suspension order was passed after a total of 13 junior resident doctors submitted complaints alleging that they were subjected to mental harassment, intimidation and abusive behaviour by six of their seniors over the last four months.

As per the complaint, even if one junior doctor made a mistake, all 13 first-year residents were allegedly called together, often late at night, and punished collectively by the seniors.

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The juniors further alleged that they were forced to repeatedly write the same sentence hundreds of times as punishment. Along with this,  they were also made to stand outside operating theatres, wards and departmental premises throughout the night. They had to upload photographs in a WhatsApp group at regular intervals as proof that they remained standing at the designated locations.

Following the complaint, the college authorities conducted an investigation and suspended all six accused resident doctors. They have been barred from entering their campuses and from appearing in examinations during this period, as per TOI report. 

Commenting on the matter, Gujarat Junior Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said that an inquiry committee headed by the Dean of Bhavnagar Medical College has been constituted to investigate the allegations. The committee is expected to submit its report to the Government, following which further action will be considered.

The incident came to light following a recent ragging incident at BJ Medical College. Medical Dialogues had recently reported that a total of three second year postgrduate medico from the orthopaedic department of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad have been suspended after being found guilty of allegedly ragging first-year PG students. While one of the second-year PG students has been suspended for one year, the other two have been suspended for six months each.

On June 8, the medical college received an anonymous complaint against the senior doctors. The complaint mentioned that the senior PG students in the orthopaedic department were mentally and physically harassing the first-year resident students. Based on this, the college authorities took the action.

Also read- 3 BJ Medical College Ahmedabad orthopaedic medicos suspended for allegedly ragging juniors