NMC takes cognizance of Anaesthesia resident doctor's death, seeks report from Dr SN Medical College Jodhpur
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has taken cognisance of the unfortunate demise of a first-year postgraduate resident doctor at Umaid Hospital, who was found dead in her hostel room on Thursday evening.
After receiving a complaint in this regard, the Apex Medical Commission's Anti-Ragging Cell has sought a detailed report from the Dean/Principal of Dr. S.N. Medical College.
"In view of the seriousness of the matter, the Dean/Principal is requested to personally examine the issue and submit comprehensive point-wise comments, along with supporting documents, to the NMC on or before 5:00 PM today, i.e., 13.11.2026, without fail," NMC said in a communication addressed to the Dean/Principal.
The medical college has also been asked to preserve all relevant records, including CCTV footage, hostel registers, duty rosters, attendance records, and available medical documents.
NMC's action comes after the United Doctors' Front (UDF) Chairperson, Dr. Lakshya Mittal, wrote to the NMC and urged the Commission, along with the Rajasthan Medical Education Department, to ensure an independent, time-bound investigation into the resident doctor's death at Umaid Hospital, Jodhpur.
What happened?
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a first-year postgraduate student in the Department of Anaesthesia at Dr. SN Medical College, Jodhpur, was found dead in her hostel room on Thursday evening. Police initiated an investigation, and the exact cause of death is yet to be established.
The deceased, a resident of Jhunjhunu, was pursuing her postgraduate studies in anaesthesia at Dr SN Medical College and was staying in the PG hostel at Umaid Hospital. According to reports, she was found unconscious after her fellow residents became concerned when she did not respond to repeated knocks on her door.
Her colleagues subsequently alerted the hospital authorities, following which she was taken to the trauma centre of MDM Hospital. However, doctors declared her as brought dead at around 6 pm.
Also Read: Dr SN Medical College Jodhpur Anaesthesia medico found dead in hostel room
UDF's Demand for Independent Investigation:
Subsequently, UDF Chairperson Dr. Mittal wrote to the Chairperson of the NMC, the Anti-Ragging Cell of the Commission and the Commissioner, Medical Education Department, Government of Rajasthan. He demanded urgent intervention and independent investigation into the matter and raised serious concerns regarding ragging, excessive working hours and toxic workplace culture at medical institutions in Rajasthan.
"This tragic incident warrants an impartial investigation into the circumstances leading to the death, including the prevailing working conditions, excessive duty hours, workplace harassment, ragging, departmental practices and institutional support systems. It is particularly concerning that 14 complaints of ragging have reportedly emerged from medical colleges across Rajasthan within last 30days. These complaints, along with recurring concerns regarding long working hours, intimidation and toxic workplace culture, demand serious institutional scrutiny," Dr. Mittal had mentioned in the communication.
He had urged the authorities to order an independent, time-bound investigation into the circumstances surrounding the resident doctor's death, examine the role and conduct of the concerned HoD, Departmental faculty and administrative authorities, including the Dean/Principal of Dr. S.N. Medical College, investigate allegations of excessive working hours, workplace harassment, ragging, intimidation, coercion and lack of adequate institutional support, review duty rosters, attendance records, departmental communications, grievance records and other relevant evidence, conduct a wider assessment of resident doctors' working conditions and implementation of anti-ragging regulations across Rajasthan’s medical colleges, and ensure confidentiality and protection of complainants, witnesses and resident doctors from retaliation.
"The investigation must not be confined to an isolated incident or a routine departmental inquiry. It should examine the institutional environment and accountability at every relevant level, while ensuring a fair and impartial process. Medical colleges must be institutions of learning, healing and dignity—not environments of fear, exploitation and humiliation," Dr Mittal had mentioned in the communication.
NMC Seeks report from Medical College:
NMC Anti-Ragging Cell has now taken cognisance of the matter and sought report from the Dean/Principal of Dr. S.N. Medical College in this regard.
"The National Medical Commission (NMC) has received a complaint and taken a very serious view of the unfortunate death of Dr. ***, First-Year Postgraduate Resident (2025 Batch), Department of Anaesthesiology, who was reportedly found unconscious in her hostel room on 12.11.2026 and subsequently declared dead at MDM Hospital, Jodhpur," NMC mentioned in a communication addressed to the Head of the institute.
The Dean/Principal has been directed to specify whether the institution was aware of the deceased PG medico's illness since 11.11.2026 and what medical assistance or follow-up was provided, what were her duty hours, workload, and night-duty assignments during the preceding seven days, whether she had ever reported any academic stress, workplace harassment, ragging, discrimination, or other grievances to the department or institutional authorities, and whether any complaints or indications of physical or psychological distress had been noticed by her colleagues, faculty members, or hostel authorities.
NMC has also sought to know about the existing hostel supervision and welfare-monitoring arrangements, whether any welfare check was conducted during her illness, what were the circumstances and sequence of events leading to her discovery in the hostel room, and what immediate medical assistance was provided, and whether the police investigation and post-mortem examination have been initiated/completed.
The college has also been asked to specify whether an institutional inquiry has been constituted and what immediate measures have been taken to ensure the safety, health and well-being of other resident doctors.
"The institution is also requested to preserve all relevant records, including CCTV footage, hostel registers, duty rosters, attendance records and available medical documents," NMC further directed.
Meanwhile, commenting on the NMC's action, Dr. Mittal told Medical Dialogues, "Following our representation regarding the unfortunate death of Dr. ***, a First-Year PG Resident at Umaid Hospital, Jodhpur, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has formally taken cognisance of the matter. The NMC Anti-Ragging Cell has sought a detailed, point-wise response from the Dean/Principal of Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, covering her duty hours, workload, night duties, possible workplace harassment or grievances, medical assistance and institutional welfare mechanisms."
"The Commission has also directed the institution to preserve crucial evidence, including CCTV footage, duty rosters, hostel registers and medical records. This is an important step. We expect a fair and comprehensive investigation, with institutional accountability wherever lapses are established," he added.
Earlier this month, the administration of Dr SN Medical College in Jodhpur suspended 19 medicos, including a junior resident, following an investigation into allegations of ragging and misconduct against junior MBBS students. Of the 19 individuals, five, including the junior resident, have been suspended for three months, while the remaining 14 students have been suspended for one month.
The action was taken after the Anti-Ragging Committee of Dr SN Medical College, Jodhpur, had launched an inquiry after junior MBBS students of the 2026 batch accused senior students of ragging, mental harassment and forcing them to address their seniors as 'Boss'.
