Tiruvannamalai Medical College MS general surgery medico allegedly dies by suicide
Chennai: In a tragic incident, a final-year postgraduate general surgery resident doctor at Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital allegedly committed suicide after reportedly consuming Paraquat. Some doctors on the internet claimed that he took this extreme step due to workplace stress, departmental toxicity, and severe mental harassment.
However, denying these claims, Dr. Mohan Gandhi, the dean of Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, said that an enquiry will be conducted to investigate the allegations.
Meanwhile, the Director of Medical Education and Research stated that the preliminary probe into his death found personal reasons behind the incident, but they will now also look into the new allegations.
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The incident took place after the doctor attended a conference in Chennai on Friday, but according to his close ones, he was unreachable since Sunday. Later, it was learnt that he had allegedly committed suicide.
As per the TNIE news report, the doctor graduated from the Government Medical College, Erode, in 2012 and was a resident doctor at Tiruvannamalai Medical College.
The medical fraternity mourned his loss, and some doctors claimed that departmental toxicity caused severe mental stress, which reportedly drove him to take his own life.
Taking the matter on 'X', a doctor said, "Another bright life lost. Another voice silenced by the system !! It’s with profound grief and outrage that we share the heartbreaking news of the untimely demise of Dr. ***. Despite receiving the best possible care at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, he tragically lost his life to Paraquat poisoning — a desperate step reportedly allegedly triggered by departmental toxicity and unbearable mental harassment."
In response, Dr. R. Suganthy Rajakumari, Director of Medical Education and Research, said, “As far as our inquiry has found, only personal reasons were mentioned behind his death. However, we will look into the allegations that have now been raised.”
Dr. Mohan Gandhi, Dean of Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, said, “The hospital will investigate the allegations. However, the claims that have surfaced are not true.”
Dr. Keerthy Varman, General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors’ Association, said, “The government should form a medical students’ welfare committee. Resident doctors are the backbone of medical college hospitals as they are present with patients full-time. Their death is not just a loss to family and friends, but also a loss to the public at large.”
Pointing out that the excessive working hours affect a doctor's mental and physical well-being, a doctor in a post on 'X' said, "There are like no rules and regulations when it comes to duty hours of resident doctors. On paper, you might be signing a bond saying duty hours won't be more than 8 hours at a stretch and not more than 48 hours in a week, and you'll get a weekly off, but they'll subtly add a clause regarding flexibility of these so that these things become a joke. And then you have the temporary tenure for 3 years, so it's easier for people above to exploit you. Then comes the fear of thesis and exam, which is in the control of the people above. Most residents question their life choices every day during residency and probably beyond that too."
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