2 Tamil Nadu doctors who raped colleagues terminated from service

The officials stated that the two doctors were non service postgraduates working at the hospital, who were involved in COVID duty. They were arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping a woman doctor and for molesting another woman doctor while they were staying at a hotel during the quarantine period while on COVID duty.

Also Read: TN: 2 Govt doctors allegedly molest, rape colleague during COVID duty, held

According to a recent media report in the Times of India, the incidents took place separately on August 5 and September 6 respectively in the five star hotel where they were staying during their Covid-19 isolation period. The accused duo, an orthopaedic and a general practitioner, were on short contract COVID duty. Both the women had filed separate cases against the accused to the hospital dean, and had to go through a difficult time for the past two months.

After an internal inquiry committee investigated the complaints and gave strong strictures against the two doctors, the RGGH dean forwarded the complaints along with the committee's finding to Chennai City Police, requesting criminal action to be taken against the accused.

In the first incident, the 35 year old orthopaedic surgeon and the woman doctor had got rooms opposite to each other. She sought the help of the accused for a snag in her phone, because of which she was unable to contact her family. However, he took her to his room claiming to have a mobile application that would sort the issue out. And after entering his room, he allegedly raped her. Thereafter, the accused doctor left the hotel room on the same day and went to stay at his friend's place in Chennai.

Detailing the second incident, the police told the daily that the complainant stayed on the second floor of a hotel in Anna Salai, whereas the 28 year old accused was staying on third floor of the same hotel. The accused invited the doctor to his room claiming to teach her a gym workout and breathing exercise. However, he assaulted and sexually harassed her inside.

After the incident came to light, various doctors at the hospital took the issue to the top brass of the government hospital. The hospital dean, Dr. E Theranirajan constituted a team of doctors to investigate the incident, following which the report was submitted by the committee early this week.

The dean told TOI that he had received the complaint on November 16 and had formed an inuiry team the next day. He said, "Minutes into the inquiry the committee members concluded that there was prima facie evidence of sexual harassment, including rape. They immediately sent us a report suggesting we file a police complaint."

The accused doctors working on a contract service were also immediately dismissed from their duty, with the hospital filing a police complaint against them. The decision to terminate the doctors was ratified by the DME.

After their arrest, Director of Medical Education R. Narayana Babu announced the termination of the accused from their services, reports The Hindu.

He told the daily, "We have issued instructions to all deans of government medical college hospitals, resident medical officers and heads of departments to periodically visit hotels where doctors and nurses were being accommodated during COVID-19 duty and quarantine period. They should look into complaints, including of harassments, and take action accordingly."

He added that during the Covid duty period, doctors were provided accommodation in hotels since the month of May 2020 during the period of total lockdown due to the rising Covid cases at that time.

He further stated, "Now, COVID-19 cases have declined. For instance, there are only about 100 patients in the five medical college hospitals in Chennai. There is no longer a lockdown and regular traffic has resumed, while 100% vaccination coverage of our healthcare personnel has been achieved. Their family members have also been vaccinated. So, there is no need for hotel quarantine. We may vacate the hotels and provide accommodation for doctors on COVID-19 duty at the respective institutions."

The Health minister Ma Subramanian told the TOI, "We have taken adequate steps to ensure legal action is taken against the errant doctors. We have also asked all medical colleges to ask doctors on Covid duty to vacate the hotel rooms."

The state has appointed more than 500 doctors on contract duty in the Covid wards. The minister added, "Lodging was given at the peak of infection when there was risk of carrying infection back home. Now, the first dose vaccination has crossed 73% and most doctors don't have trouble accessing hospitals as public transport services are open now."

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