SGRR Medical College Paediatrics Resident commits suicide due to alleged toxic work culture, Doctors on protest demanding reasonable working hours

Dehradun: In a tragic incident, a first-year Pediatrics resident doctor at Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (SGRRIMHS), committed suicide yesterday allegedly due to a toxic work culture in the department.

As per sources, the PG medico was allegedly overworked, sleep-deprived, and did not even have time to eat. His father reportedly claimed that his son had not been happy ever since he joined the department and was always complaining about the insults from the faculty. 

Protesting against the incident, the resident doctors at the institute decided to boycott the elective duties. The residents have demanded that the authorities waive the fees of the deceased student so that his parents do not have to face any financial burden. They have also demanded the authorities to comply with the National Medical Commission's (NMC) guidelines of maintaining reasonable working hours, giving weekly offs, etc., a State member of IMA Junior Doctors' Network (JDN) told Medical Dialogues on the condition of anonymity.

He informed that the deceased doctor, who was JR 1 of the Pediatrics Department, was found dead in his room in the hostel yesterday at around 9 PM. Immediately, he was taken to the emergency at Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital (SMIH), which is affiliated with SGRR Medical College. After that, he was declared dead.

"What we have heard, he was dead long before people reached there. Out of sheer stress that he was being put through in the Pediatrics Department, he had a mental breakdown. We suspect this was due to that mental breakdown because yesterday morning, his thesis was rejected and he was told that he had to submit thesis protocol at any cost."

The doctor informed that the residents at the medical college are protesting against the inhumane working hours which sometimes go up to 48 to 60 hours. They are also protesting against the management and the college for not following the NMC regulations of 8-hour shift duty. Even though the regulations state that the doctors should get a weekly off, the residents at SGRR medical college are allegedly not getting any such offs and they are being forced to work in each and every holiday. They are also unable to use the CLs provided by the college.

"We want that the NMC regulations should be enacted immediately," said the doctor, adding that the residents are not also allowed to leave the hostel even though the NMC regulations clearly state that it is not compulsory for any resident to stay in the hostel or to give mess charges. 

Speaking about the demands of the residents, the doctor further informed, "We want that this management should resign and we all demand that all the measures are enacted so that no further such incidents happen. We also want an apology from the management team to the parents of the deceased. We also want that Dr. ***'s (the deceased) fees should be waived off. We got to know a rumour that they are demanding for three0years course fee to give his body. We don't know if it is rumoured or true. But his parents should not go through any of the legal proceedings or any of the problems that they are facing right now."

Meanwhile, police officials from the local chowki went to the college yesterday to investigate the matter. Residents are being questioned in this connected, sources informed Medical Dialogues.

The sources further informed that on the same day, a third-year PG resident attempted suicide. She ingested 9-10 Alprex tablets and told her department that she was going to jump from a building because of alleged toxicity. Somehow, her colleagues calmed her down, and the department sent her home.

Commenting on these instances, the National Convener of IMA JDN, Dr. Indranil Deshmukh told Medical Dialogues, "Exaggerated duty time (stretching without breaks up to 36 hours on certain days), inadequate rest, hostile work environments created by some toxic seniors and a lack of time-off for PG students are significant factors contributing to burnout and mental health challenges. IMA Junior Doctors Network demands fixed working hours for the resident doctors in the country and anti ragging committee in each medical college to deal with such issues. Proper investigation is required in this case."

Meanwhile, the institute issued a condolence notice today asking the students, staff and faculty members to attend the condolence meeting at 11 AM today. The notice stated, "This is to inform you that Dr. ***, PG-Paediatrics passed away on 17th May, 2024. A condolence meeting has been organized today (18/05/2024) in Medical College Auditorium at 11:00 a.m. to pay respect to the departed soul. All faculty members, Staff, PG students and UG Students of Medical College and associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital are requested to attend the same."

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