The rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has left the entire nation shaken. The incident not only calls for stricter measures to ensure the safety of women in the country but also that of doctors, whose safety is compromised on a day-to-day basis at their workplace.
According to the Indian Medical Association, more than 75% of doctors in India have faced some form of violence while on duty. The violence is not just physical. They also face verbal abuse almost every day, reported Mint.
One needs to raise several important questions pertaining to this incident.
The victim in this case was a second-year postgraduate student who was a resident trainee at RG Kar Medical Hospital. She was on a 36-hour shift and because there were no allotted rooms for doctors to rest in, she decided to go to the seminar room to rest in the middle of the night. The next morning, her half-naked bruised body was found lifeless inside the room.
Why are there no specific rooms allotted for doctors to rest in?
Why were there no CCTV cameras inside the seminar room?
Why were there no security guards nearby?
The accused in this case, who allegedly raped and murdered the doctor, is a civic volunteer working with Kolkata Police.
How did he have access to the hospital premises late into the night, let alone the seminar room?
Who gave him permission to frequent the hospital premises regularly?
Upon doing a background search, it was found that the accused has a history of assaulting women and is a womanizer, according to the people in his neighbourhood. He had been married four times before. He is also accused of physically abusing his wives and has faced a case of domestic violence lodged by his fourth wife. In addition to this, he was addicted to watching violent pornography, reported Business Standard. He had joined the Kolkata Police as a civic volunteer in 2019 and was posted to the police outpost at the hospital.
Why was there no background check done by Kolkata Police before hiring the accused as a civic volunteer?
Meanwhile, a nationwide protest has erupted at government hospitals across the country. Residents doctors have announced an indefinite strike in several government hospitals, affecting patient care services. Here’s a look into their demands, as reported by ABP:
- The resident doctors are demanding a “fast-track judicial inquiry” into the case.
- Written apology and written resignation of the Principal of RG Kar Medical College, Medical Superintendent cum Vice-Principal, Dean of Students’ Affairs, HOD of Respiratory Medicine, and Assistant Superintendent on duty that day.
- Financial compensation with lifelong support provided by the government for the parents of the victim, which must be announced quickly.
- Adequate workplace security measures in all medical colleges and healthcare facilities including CCTV, male and female security guards, police picketing and patrolling, and proper on-call rooms, with immediate effect.
- A public apology from Kolkata Police for their assault upon protesting medical students and junior doctors on August 10.
- Speedy formation of an expert committee for implementation of the Central Healthcare Protection Act, which gives protection to medical professionals from any act of violence.
The Principal of RG Kar Medical College, Dr Sandip Ghosh, had earlier resigned post the gruesome incident but now has been appointed as the Principal of Calcutta National Medical College, which has again caused an outroar amongst the students and doctors. There is now a protest at CNCM to stop Dr Sandip Ghosh from taking up the Principal’s post as they consider it “unethical” and “potentially dangerous”, reported TOI.
What are your views regarding this case?