Surat, Aug 10 (IANS) Four senior doctors at Surat New Civil Hospital have been suspended after a state-appointed enquiry into the suicide of a first-year resident doctor found evidence of ragging and mental harassment, with the investigation completed within 24 hours, Gujarat Health Minister, Praful Pansheriya said on Monday.
The minister said the special investigation committee, constituted following the incident, worked continuously from 9.30 p.m. through the night and recorded statements of more than 80 first-year resident doctors.
A forensic post-mortem was also ordered as part of the enquiry. According to the preliminary report of the Anti-Ragging Committee, four senior doctors found directly responsible for causing mental harassment have been suspended with immediate effect.
The Head of Department of the concerned department at New Civil Hospital, along with teaching staff, has also been served show-cause notices for allegedly failing to fulfil their responsibility of ensuring the safety and proper management of junior doctors.
“No suicide note was found,” the minister said. However, statements recorded from the deceased doctor’s fellow students indicated that the doctor had allegedly been repeatedly subjected to mental harassment and torture by senior doctors.
Pansheriya said the findings had prompted the Gujarat government to take strict action against those found responsible.
“Harassing junior doctors is not our culture,” he said, while warning senior doctors against ragging and mental harassment.
He said doctors entered the medical profession to serve society and that those involved in ragging could carry its consequences throughout their lives and careers.
The minister also appealed to junior doctors and students not to take any extreme step if they faced harassment, ragging or threats of being failed in examinations.
“Contact me directly without fear before taking any extreme step,” he said, urging students to approach their Dean, College Director, himself or the Gujarat government immediately if they faced such problems.
Pansheriya assured students that the state government would stand by them and work to ensure their safety and future.
He also spoke to the deceased doctor’s father by telephone, expressed his condolences and offered support to the family.
The minister assured the family that the government would take action against anyone found responsible and that the deceased doctor and the family would receive complete justice.
–IANS
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