Accusation of mental harassment overshadows BJ Medical College ENT Dept

As per media accounts in Ahmedabad Mirror, a video went viral which shows the ENT resident doctor accusing the ENT department head of mentally harassing him after demanding medical equipment from him and subsequently threatening to terminate his residency.

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The Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) has also come out in support of the student. A representative of JDA told Ahmedabad Mirror, "ENT department head had demanded a micrometer drill machine from ENT resident doctor Saurabh. When he refused to do so, she threatened to terminate his residency. We have elevated the matter at the highest level, including the dean, the medical superintendent and the health department officials. We have demanded the doctor's transfer and resignation."

Meanwhile triggered over the issue of medical equipments, a resident doctor of the ENT department in the college attempted suicide by injecting himself with a sleep inducing injection at his residence. Fortunately, he was saved by his fellow residents on time.

As per sources of the JDA, fellow residents rushed to his place as one of them was aware that the resident doctor had taken sleep injection and syringe while going home. He was taken to Civil Hospital in a semi-unconscious condition to receive treatment.

The resident doctor took the step since he was hurt after he was countered over the expenses that he had to bear to buy medical equipment for the department. JDA sources mentioned that the medical equipment demand raised by the department is not fulfilled by the government, therefore it is met by the students of the department.

According to the media report in the Ahmedabad Mirror, the department wise WhatsApp groups run by the students and the resident doctor had mentioned in their ENT group that the latter had spent over Rs 5 lakhs in order to buy equipments for the department. However, he was countered by arguments over the expenditure in the group. This left the medico hurt, and as a result he decided to attempt suicide. He is presently receiving treatment and recovering at the hospital.

Talking about the allegations levelled against the head of ENT department, a senior BJMC doctor told the daily, "Levelling of allegation against the ENT HoD just days after similar accusation against another doctor smacks of politics on the campus. Students are being used as tools."

Meanwhile, civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi stated, "We have received complaints about mental harassment and demand for medical equipment. We will have to hear the students as well as the doctor. It won't be possible for me to comment unless both sides are heard."

Earlier, a similar case of mental harassment was reported in the same medical college where the JDA had registered a complaint of mental harassment against the head of medical department.

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