Dr. Archana Sharma suicide case, SP Removed, SHO Suspended

Lalsot: Taking serious note of the suicide of a doctor in Dausa after being booked for murder, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday ordered the removal of a senior police officer and suspension of an SHO. 

Dr. Archana Sharma committed suicide on Tuesday due to alleged harassment after police filed an FIR against her under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code at Lalsot Police Station in Dausa in connection with the death of a pregnant woman at her hospital. 

Also Read:Booked for murder after patient death, distressed Gynecologist Commits Suicide in Rajasthan

According to an official release, Gehlot has directed the officials to remove Dausa Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar, suspended SHO of Lalsot Police Station Ankesh Kumar, and put deputy Superintendent of Police Lalsot Shankar Lal under awaiting posting orders. Divisional Commissioner Jaipur Dinesh Kumar Yadav will conduct an administrative inquiry into the matter. Gehlot gave the instructions in a high-level meeting at his residence on Wednesday evening.

It was decided in the meeting that strict action should be taken against those who abetted the woman to commit suicide by registering a case, a release said. The chief minister was also directed to constitute a committee led by an additional chief secretary (home) to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and to give necessary suggestions.

The committee will comprise of secretaries of the medical and health departments, medical education departments, senior officers from police and law departments, and doctors.

The committee will study all the legal aspects and will prepare a guideline, which will be implemented across the state. Gehlot also condemned the incident and said an inquiry is going on and those found guilty will not be spared.

"The incident of Dr. Archana Sharma's suicide in Dausa is very sad. We all give the status of god to doctors. Every doctor tries his best to save the life of the patient, but it is not justified to accuse the doctor as soon as any unfortunate incident happens," Gehlot tweeted earlier in the day.

"If doctors will be intimidated like this, then how will they be able to do their work with confidence? We all should think about how such treatment can be done to the doctors who served all by risking their lives during COVID pandemic," he added.

The Rajasthan State Commission for Women has taken cognizance of the matter and sought a factual report from police within seven days. Relatives of Asha Bairwa, the woman who died on Monday, accused Sharma of negligence and held a demonstration with the dead body outside Anand Hospital in Lalsot, Dausa -- owned by Sharma and her husband Dr. Suneet Upadhyaya.

In her suicide note in Hindi, Sharma wrote, "I love my husband and children very much. Please do not trouble my husband and children after my death. I did not commit any mistakes and did not kill anyone. PPH is a severe complication, stop harassing doctors about it. My death may prove my innocence. Don't harass innocent doctors, please."

According to Sharma, the cause of Bairwa's death was Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH), a medical condition under which severe bleeding happens after childbirth.

In a video message, Upadhyaya has blamed BJP leaders of protecting accused Balya Joshi, who allegedly mounted pressure on police to lodge the murder case, but the saffron party has denied the allegation.

Meanwhile, the medical fraternity across the country has shown their opposition to such strong violence. The Indian Medical Association of Rajasthan has called for a 24-hour medical bandh in the state as well as in Delhi. In Delhi, Resident doctors of AIIMS have planned a symbolic protest, wearing black ribbons.

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) urged strict action and demanded compensation for the family of Dr. Archana Sharma.

National Medical Forum has written to the Chief Justice of India to intervene to stop the "ongoing atrocities against the medical profession so that they can practice with safety and dignity".

"The said incident has once again brought into the limelight, the undeserved harassment and attacks the doctors are being subjected to in our Country despite doing their best to save the lives of their patients. The Doctors of our Country live and work under constant fear of violent attacks, verbal abuse, aggressive gestures, and malicious and baseless prosecution by the relatives of the patients. Several such incidents have taken place during the pandemic and continue to take place on daily basis to date," Dr Prem aggarwal, President, National Medical Forum stated.

The NGO further alleged that this is not the only incident where doctors in India are being harassed by police and relatives of patients.

"It is unfortunate that while the Medical Profession is often referred to as the noblest profession, Medical Practitioners are being harassed and threatened with prosecution, abuse, and even physical assault. there is an urgent need to forcefully implement the Guidelines issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the Jacob Mathews Case and to issue further Guidelines regarding strict action against the officials who act in wilful defiance of the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court," the letter added

Also Read:Dr Suneet Upadhyaya on death of his wife Dr Archana Sharma