2 more doctors join fast unto death in Kolkata over RG Kar horror
Two more junior doctors have joined six of their colleagues who have been on a fast unto death here for the past seven days demanding justice for the murdered woman medic at RG Kar Hospital, along with other crucial issues.
Parichoy Panda from Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan and Alolika Ghorui from Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital joined the protest on Saturday, taking the total number of medics on indefinite fast across the state to 10, including the two at North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri.
Meanwhile, the condition of the fasting doctors have worsened, with fellow medics saying their health parameters are “declining”. They have been on hunger strike since October 5.
Dr Debasish Halder, one of the protesting doctors, said, “They are very weak and all their parameters are declining. The presence of creatinine in their urine has increased. Seven days of fasting is definitely taking a toll on their health, but it hasn’t weakened their resolve for justice.”
Meanwhile, the health of Aniket Mahato, a junior medic admitted to the critical care unit (CCU) of RG Kar Hospital, remains “critical, but stable”. A senior doctor noted, “He is responding to treatment. He is showing improvement in his health parameters due to calculated care, but he will need a few more days to recover fully.”
Mahato, who joined the indefinite fast on October 6, was rushed to RG Kar Hospital on Thursday after his health deteriorated.
In a related development, two fasting junior doctors alleged that the police have been exerting pressure on their family members to persuade them to withdraw from their hunger strike. Snigdha Hazra from Kolkata Medical College and Hospital and Alok Verma from North Bengal Medical College reported receiving calls urging their families to ask them to end their fast.
Senior police officials declined to comment on the matter.
Another protesting doc admitted to hospital
Another junior doctor, who was observing a fast unto death in protest over the rape-murder of a woman medic at RG Kar hospital, was admitted to a healthcare facility on Saturday after his condition deteriorated, an official said. Alok Varma from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital became the second medic of those who have been on the indefinite fast to be hospitalised after Aniket Mahato was admitted to the ICU of RG Kar Hospital three days ago.
