Ensure fair probe into female MD student's death at Government Medical College, Patiala: Doctors

Patiala, July 25

Five days after a female MD student at Government Medical College allegedly died by suicide, a delegation of the Residents Doctors Association of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, met medical college authorities and demanded the two-member internal fact-finding committee to probe the reasons behind her death fairly.

In a communique, the copy of which is with The Tribune, the association stated, “There are reports that some resident doctors are being discouraged from providing statements regarding this case (suicide), which raises concern about transparency and fairness.”

The communique further read, “The inclusion of our members in the committee will ensure that the investigation is conducted without bias. It will also provide a platform for addressing border systemic issues, which often go undressed,” read the communique.

The victim was a resident of Chennai and a final-year PG student in the Anaesthesia Department. They said she was preparing her thesis for the MD. During the preliminary probe, it came to light that the victim was upset as her thesis was not accepted.

The police said the computer on which she had saved the file for her thesis crashed, and she had to make the thesis all over again. They said the thesis was due by July 15; however, it took her time to redo it, because of which it was not accepted, causing her stress.

Led by Dr Akshay Seth, senior resident and Dr Nrip Jindal, a delegation met the acting director principal, Dr. Ashwani Kumar, and handed over the memorandum.

The memorandum read, “Given the seriousness of these concerns, we urge you to reconsider our request and include members from the resident doctors’ association in the inquiry committee. Failing to do so will compel us to escalate the matter by submitting.”