BJ Medical College forms committee to probe Harassment allegations against orthopaedics associate professor

Ahmedabad: In response to allegations of harassment made by a second-year orthopaedic resident doctor at BJ Medical College (BJMC) against an associate professor, the college authorities have formed a four-member inquiry committee to probe the matter.

The committee creation announcement was made recently and the committee has been given the responsibility of submitting a report within a week. Following the findings, necessary actions will be implemented by the college authorities. 

Earlier, after the doctor wrote a letter explaining the harassment incidents that went viral on social media, the administration assured investigation into the matter and an official complaint was filed by the doctor.

Speaking to TOI, Postgraduate Programme director Dr Meenakshi Parikh said “On Monday, a second-year postgraduate resident doctor from the orthopaedic department accused Dr *** of ill-treatment and harassment. We have formed a four-member committee to investigate the matter. The committee will submit its report in a week, based on which we shall act."

Also read- BJ Medical College Orthopaedics Resident Alleges Harassment By Associate Professor, Files Complaint

Medical Dialogues team on July 3 reported that accusing an associate professor in the Orthopaedic department, of continuous harassment, a second-year orthopaedic resident doctor at BJ Medical College associated with Ahmedabad Civil Hospital filed an official complaint recently detailing serious allegations of harassment continuing for over a year, including the forced harassment of junior resident doctors.

After the medico expressed his intention to commit suicide in a letter due to the alleged toxic environment and torture he allegedly endured by his professor since the beginning of his PG studies, his distress became widely known over the weekend when senior students addressed the issue on the social media platform 'X' by sharing the letter written by him leading to a rapid spread of the message and support from other internet users.

In the letter, the doctor expressed his frustration regarding the alleged toxic work culture and torture from the professor that he had endured since he started his postgraduate studies. The student alleged that the harassment began while he was a first-year resident at the medical college hospital. He claimed he was constantly humiliated, blamed for various problems, forced to write self-incriminating letters, and treated as a 'servant rather than a student.'

Further, he alleged that he was forced to engage in inappropriate behaviour with juniors and his colleagues and was humiliated in front of patients. Although he had apologised to them, the ongoing harassment since the beginning of his residency impacted his mental state making him feel 'helpless'.

Also read- Toxic Work Culture Allegations Rocks Gandhi Medical College Bhopal: 5 Resident Doctors Threaten Mass Suicide