Complaints filed against 2 Urology Professors: PGI Chandigarh sets up high-level committee to probe allegations

Chandigarh: The Postgraduate Medical Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has set up high-level committees to probe grievances filed against two different faculty members of the Urology Department of the institute. 

The Director of PGIMER, Dr Vivek Lal received these two complaints in just three months. One of these two complaints was filed by a woman patient hailing from Punjab and the other one was filed by the senior residents of the Department.

The latest of these two complaints was made by the female patient against an assistant professor of the Urology Department. She alleged that her check-up was done by the doctor in a locked room, in the absence of a woman attendant.

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As per the latest media report by Indian Express, the complainant alleged that she was touched inappropriately by the doctor. After she gave her complaint in writing to the Director of the Institute, a high-powered committee was formed by Dr. Lal to investigate the matter.

Dr. Lal further informed the Daily that the complainant was called to give her statements on September 27 and after recording the same, the matter will be taken further. 

PGI OPDs have both male and female hospital attendants and during the examination of a woman patient, if she is alone, a hospital attendant must be present in the room, as per the ethical standards.

The other complaint was filed by the senior residents of the Urology Department in June. Writing to the PGIMER Director, the residents alleged that they were being intimidated and harassed by a professor of the Department, and therefore, they demanded action against him.

In the letter, the senior residents alleged that the professor made "demeaning" remarks regarding their academic abilities in front of the patients and staff and had unrealistic work expectations. Further, they alleged that the doctor created a hostile learning environment, threatened to take academic penalties, fail them in final exams and cancel their leaves. 

Further, they said that the environment of fear was detrimental to their learning experience and undermined the education quality. As per the Director of PGIMER, the statements of all the stakeholders were recorded and an amicable solution to the issue was being worked upon, even though no decision has been taken yet.

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