RIMS Ranchi junior resident doctor molested by patient inside elevator, accused arrested

Ranchi: When the entire country is in turmoil demanding justice in the case of brutal rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital, the safety of female doctors at hospitals has once again come into question as a junior resident doctor from the Oncology Department at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi recently became the victim of molestation inside a hospital lift when she was on her way for duties at the hospital.

The accused in this case is a patient who is alleged to have sexually assaulted the doctor and used inappropriate language to intimidate her while she was heading to her duties in the oncology department. He was caught and sent to the Bariatu police station for further probe.

Following this, the police started the investigation by filing an FIR under relevant sections of IPC based on the victim's complaint. As a result, the accused has been arrested.

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Condemning the incident, the doctors at the hospital under the banner of the Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) had initiated a pen-down strike demanding increased security for them at the hospital. However, the strike was called off and the doctors resumed their duties on Monday.

This comes after a discussion was held between the delegation of JDA and the college management. In the meeting, the college authorities assured them that they would appoint additional security to the hospital. They agreed to appoint lift operators for every lift and deploy armed police officers in each ward. At least 100 armed police personnel will be stationed on the premises.

Speaking to the Avenue Mail, JDA Vice President Dr Abhishek Hansda, “We have four specific demands, which include deploying a security guard in every lift, allowing only one attendant per patient, assigning two guards to each ward, and increasing the number of security guards in the hospital. The strike was called off after all our demands were accepted during a meeting with the concerned authorities.”

Dr Hansda expressed his frustration with the current security arrangements at the hospital and said, “While we appreciate the administration’s quick response, the available security measures are still inadequate. The safety of doctors remains a serious concern. Strikes are not a long-term solution; we need a more permanent and comprehensive approach to address this issue.”

This comes amid nationwide outrage and protests after the body of the postgraduate trainee residential doctor was found with multiple injury marks in a seminar room of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. She was raped and killed while on duty.

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