Mumbai Hospital DNB Surgery trainee attempts suicide after suspension, had complained to NBE of ragging, harassment, long duty hours

Mumbai: A first-year DNB General Surgery trainee at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, reportedly made a second suicide attempt after being suspended by the hospital.

Months earlier, she had approached the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), alleging ragging, mental harassment, excessive duty hours and unfair treatment during her residency.

The doctor, who joined Saifee Hospital as a DNB Surgery trainee in February 2026, was placed under suspension by the hospital on September 2. In its suspension order, the hospital directed her not to enter its premises without prior written permission and asked her not to influence any person or witness connected with the matter.

A doctor familiar with the matter told Medical Dialogues that she allegedly consumed cresol syrup in a second attempt to take her life after suspension. She was subsequently taken to a hospital and is currently recovering, the doctor said.

Allegations of ragging and harassment

In the complaint, the doctor alleged that since the beginning of her residency, she was posted under a second-year Surgery resident who, along with some other seniors, repeatedly scolded her without reason and created a hostile work environment.

She alleged that she was subjected to ragging and publicly humiliated by seniors on multiple occasions. Despite informing the hospital management and the Head of Department (HOD) several times, she claimed that no corrective action was taken and the situation continued.

The medico alleged of working around 100 hours a week of duty shifts without a weekly off; around 8 am to 10 pm or later on several days. This excessive duty severely affected her physical health and caused burnout, she alleged.

Complaint to NBE

In her complaint to NBEMS, the document accessed with Medical Dialogues, the doctor described an incident on April 20 in which she alleged that a senior resident tore up a treatment sheet she had prepared for a patient and reprimanded her in front of hospital staff and management.

She stated that she subsequently became mentally distressed and went home. Upset, she allegedly attempted suicide on April 21 by consuming pills and cutting her wrist. She said her family took her to a nursing home, where she received treatment.

She further alleged that after returning to the hospital on April 27, she was not permitted to resume duty for several days and was subsequently informed that her April stipend would be withheld.

"The hospital management was well aware of my condition, yet they sent a complaint to NBEMS stating that I had “absconded”," the doctor said in her complaint.

The medico also alleged that her duty hours were increased after the incident to 15–16 hours daily without a weekly off and that she was shifted from the Surgery Department to work as a Floor RMO.

"This is not part of DNB General Surgery training. I am being denied OT opportunities, while all my colleagues are regularly posted in OTs. This is severely affecting my surgical training and learning," she added.

She also alleged that she was assigned work related to other departments which are not part of her DNB curriculum and was subjected to comments questioning her competence as a surgeon.

Doctor sought NBEMS intervention

Alleging harassment, ragging and violation of DNB training guidelines, the junior resident doctor requested NBEMS to conduct an independent inquiry into the matter, ensure proper DNB training and OT postings, regulate her duty hours, release her withheld stipend and protect her from punitive action.

She also sought an audit of her duty roster and attendance from the date of joining.

Separately, another doctor had filed an RTI application with NBEMS on April 27 seeking details of the concerned medico's duty hours, duty roster and attendance. In its response, NBEMS said that the information regarding her daily duty hours and duty roster was not available with the Board. For the other points, it directed the applicant to the Board's grievance redressal mechanism for trainees and candidates.

Complaint Against Saifee Hospital

A complaint was filed on May 10, 2026, on the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) regarding alleged training deficiencies, excessive duty hours and lack of academic supervision for DNB trainees at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai. The complainant sought an independent inquiry and confidential interaction with trainees.

NBEMS Response

The complaint was closed on May 26, 2026. In its response, NBEMS said DNB is a residency-based programme with structured academic training and stated that working hours and duties are governed by applicable norms and its Comprehensive Leave Policy. The policy provides for up to 30 days of approved leave annually, weekly/duty offs and applicable maternity or paternity leave as per prescribed norms.

NBEMS also said trainees can first approach the institute's Grievance Redressal Committee and, if dissatisfied with the action taken, escalate the matter to the NBEMS Grievance Redressal Committee.

Show cause notice against trainee

Following the complaint, the doctor was issued a show-cause notice by the hospital management on August 14, asking her to submit a written explanation as to why a confidential inquiry and suspension should not be initiated against her. The notice warned that if she failed to respond, it could be presumed that she had “no explanation to offer,” following which the hospital could proceed with the matter in accordance with the applicable rules.

The notice cited several instances in which the hospital alleged that the trainee had made “false allegations,” including claims of excessive duty hours and refusal to admit a patient. It also accused her of putting up defamatory posts against the hospital.

Suspension order

After this, the management of Saifee Hospital suspended her with immediate effect.

The order issued on September 2, read, "First (1st) Year DNB Trainee, Department of Surgery, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai is hereby placed under suspension with effect from service of this order till further orders. You are hereby instructed not to enter the premises of Saifee Hospital, Mumbai hereafter without prior written permission of the hospital authorities. You are also instructed to refrain from trying to influence any person or witness concerned with the above matter. This order is issued under directions of the management / administration of Saifee Hospital, Mumbai. Dated at Mumbai this 02nd September, 2026."

Also read- Satara doctor dies after suicide attempt, doctors' associations demand time-bound inquiry