Fast-unto-Death Protest: Junior doctor condition deteriorates, hospitalised

Kolkata: Among the seven junior doctors who have been on an indefinite hunger strike since October 5 demanding justice for Abhaya and workplace safety for doctors, one of the medics was admitted to the ICU of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday night after his health condition deteriorated severely. 

The doctor has been identified as Aniket Mahato, one of the seven on fast unto death since Saturday evening. According to senior doctors, Mahato's pulse rate was found very low and his other health parameters were also not normal indicating that his health was deteriorating. 

“Aniket Mahato’s condition worsened and his parameters were not good. He was taken to RG Kar hospital and will be admitted to the intensive care unit,” senior doctor Subarna Goswami told a news channel.

Also read- After 50 RG Kar medicos resign, More senior doctors join in support of junior doctors

Mahato, along with a few others, has been at the forefront of the agitation seeking justice for the rape and murder victim of RG Kar for the last two months.

Another agitating doctor accompanying Mahato told PTI, “His pulse rate was very low and his other health parameters were also not normal.” A team of four specialist doctors was sent by the state health department to the venue of the hunger strike by junior doctors in the Esplanade area to assess the health condition of the seven doctors who have been on hunger strike for the past five days. 

“We came here to assess their health situation. It is quite natural that their health parameters wouldn’t be very good after five days of fasting. We are like their parents, and as elders, we have suggested that they should be admitted to a hospital before their condition worsens,” said Diptendra Sarkar, a member of the four-member medical team, speaking to reporters.

The junior doctors, agitating over the alleged rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar Hospital, continued their fast unto death for the fifth consecutive day on Thursday, amid Durga Puja festivities across West Bengal.

Kolkata police requested Mahato to seek medical assistance

Expressing concern over the deteriorating health of Dr Aniket Mahato, Kolkata police had urged him to call off his hunger strike and avail medical assistance to prevent further deterioration assuring that all necessary logistical assistance would be provided.

In a letter addressed to him, the Officer-in-Charge of Hare Street Police Station said, "It is to mention that you are on hunger strike at Dorina crossing since last Saturday and afterwards on a forcefully erected stage without permission from competent authority."

"Information from the display board (on health parameters) kept in front of your stage, as well as from other sources, indicates that your condition is deteriorating", he added. The police had previously requested that he use a KP Police Ambulance, but he refused.

To assist him, the letter mentioned that the "Department of Health, Government of West Bengal, has been requested to deploy a team of doctors for you." The police urged Dr Mahato to "vacate your current place of stay and avail medical assistance to prevent further deterioration." They assured him that all necessary logistical assistance would be provided.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front wrote a letter to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, expressing frustration over the state government's silence regarding their concerns, reported ANI news agency. 

In their letter, the doctors expressed disappointment that it took 96 hours of an indefinite hunger strike to secure a meeting. They are demanding timely updates on their previous requests and accountability from the government.

The letter read, "As we expressed yesterday, we were disheartened by the fact that it took 96 hours of indefinite hunger strike for you to even call us for a meeting." They noted that their previous emails on September 26 and September 29 had gone unanswered, despite their hopes that the government was taking their demands seriously.

The doctors stated that the recent meeting provided no new information and that they were verbally updated on their demands, which had already been publicly announced. They insisted on their right to know the progress of the government's actions.

"We reserve every right to formally know the progress of the works that are being done by the state," the letter continued, emphasising their demand for a status report every seven days. The group pointed out that it has been 23 days since their last meeting without any updates or the promised security audit.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front also requested an immediate status report and security audit from the government, stating, "Hence, we request you to provide us a status report of the works undertaken by yourselves and also the security audit undertaken by you (as stated by yourself) immediately."

Also read- 50 Senior Doctors at RG Kar Medical College submit En-masse Resignation