SMS Medical College Revokes Suspension of 3 medicos, resident doctors end strike

Jaipur: After around a week-long strike by the resident doctors protesting against the suspension of three postgraduate medical students in an alleged case of negligence while providing treatment to a pregnant woman in labour, the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College finally revoked their suspension on Sunday.

The order by the medical college authorities comes after the medical services at the hospitals attached to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College became severely affected due to the strike by the resident doctors, starting last Monday. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the incident took place last week when a pregnant woman was brought to the Kanwatia Hospital with labour pain. It was alleged that the hospital staff denied her admission and consequently, she delivered her baby outside the main gate of the hospital. The woman reportedly was in a high-risk pregnancy as her haemoglobin level was much below normal.

Following this incident, the Rajasthan Health Department immediately suspended three resident doctors after a preliminary investigation found their action as "serious negligence and insensitivity". In addition to the suspension, the department also served a show cause notice to the Medical Superintendent for supervisory negligence in the case. The three suspended doctors are PG students of the 2021 batch, 2022 batch and 2023 batch attached to the obstetrics and gynaecology department of the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College.

Also Read: SMS Medical College Resident Doctors on Strike, protest Suspension of 3 Medicos

The panel also sought a detailed explanation on why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him. However, questioning this move by the Government, the resident doctors at the medical college initiated a strike on 8th April 2024. 

Demanding a withdrawal of the suspension and a detailed inquiry into the matter, the the doctors under the Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD), SMS Medical College had announced that no PG/Superspeciality student would enter the hospital premises until their demand was met.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the President of JARD of SMS Medical College, Dr. Rajesh Kumawat had earlier shared photos and videos from the strike. He wrote, "Innocent PG students are made scapegoats and suspended. This has become a tradition. PG students protested against this."

Even though previously the association had requested the college authorities to cancel the suspension/APO by 7th April 2024, no action was taken by the authorities in this regard. However, after around a week-long strike, the college authorities on Sunday revoked the suspension of the concerned three resident doctors. 

Referring to the three residents from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 batches, the Medical College mentioned in an office order that "In compliance with the State Government's letter number P.1.(22)ME/Group-/2019 dated 04.04.2024, as per the decision taken in the meeting of the disciplinary committee of this college dated 04.04.2024, by this office order number 4159 dated 04.04.2024, the following Resident doctors were suspended from M.S (Gynecology and Obstetrics) course with immediate effect..."

"As per the decision taken in the meeting of the Disciplinary Committee of this college dated 14.04.2024, the suspension of the said resident doctors is reinstated with immediate effect," the order further mentioned.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues in this regard, the President of JARD of SMS Medical College, Dr. Rajesh Kumawat informed that the suspension orders were revoked after a meeting was held by the authorities including the Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Education Commissioner, the Principal of the SMS Medical College and the Director of Medical Education.

Commenting on the issue, he added, "If resident doctors are suspended, their training course gets affected. The authorities can surely can action if the resident doctors are found at fault after a detailed investigation. However, before the inquiry, taking action against resident doctors is totally unjustified."

Dr. Kumawat confirmed that considering the plights of the patients, the resident doctors' association called off the strike yesterday night as soon as the suspension order was revoked.

Meanwhile, in a similar matter, the Rajasthan Medical Education Department has allowed two resident doctors, who were accused of wrong blood transfusion and were suspended for the same earlier this year, to join their medical courses with immediate effect. The Government took this decision after noting that the charge sheets have been issued against the concerned doctors for disciplinary action.

Sharing the copies of the orders by the SMS Medical College and the Rajasthan Government, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) wrote on X, "Victory for protesting residents in SMS Jaipur! @JARDSMS @jardsmsjaipur Suspensions revoked. To begin with, they were wrong in the first place."

"But why does it take a protest and stalling of essential services to be heard, EVERYTIME?" further questioned the association, adding, "No resident ever wishes to come out on the streets, jeopardising patient care. And they never would, if proper redressal mechanisms are put in place by respective state authorities. Also, this shows how important Resident Doctors’ Association are."

FORDA also thanked the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the Rajasthan Government for listening to the demands of the residents and "for letting justice prevail".

Also Read: 3 resident doctors of Gynaecology Dept suspended after woman delivers outside Jaipur Hospital