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New Delhi — A deepening crisis at one of India’s premier medical institutions, Safdarjung Hospital, has brought critical cardiac services to a standstill. The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) has launched a mass work boycott following allegations that the Head of the Department (HOD) of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) physically assaulted a Senior Resident from the Anaesthesia Department.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on December 1, 2025, has reignited the fiercely debated issue of workplace safety and hierarchical toxicity within India’s healthcare system. While recent protests have largely focused on violence from patients’ relatives, this allegation of “internal” violence—peer-to-peer or supervisor-to-subordinate—has sent shockwaves through the medical community.
The Incident: What We Know
According to the complaint filed by the Safdarjung Hospital RDA, the altercation took place within the high-stakes environment of the hospital’s CTVS wing. The RDA alleges that the HOD, identified in social media statements by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) as Dr. Anubhav Gupta, physically abused a Senior Resident (SR) of Anaesthesia while on duty.
The specific nature of the alleged assault, described by witnesses as “physical abuse,” occurred either inside the Operation Theatre (OT) or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with conflicting reports regarding the exact location.
In a strongly worded letter to the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, the RDA declared an immediate cessation of all elective and emergency services within the CTVS department, including OT and ICU duties, effective until their demands are met.
The Demands: Accountability and Safety
The RDA’s response has been swift and uncompromising. The association has outlined three non-negotiable demands:
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Immediate Removal: The HOD of CTVS must be relieved of all active duties and surgical privileges pending an inquiry.
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Impartial Inquiry: The formation of an Institutional Enquiry Committee to investigate the sequence of events without administrative bias.
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Psychiatric Evaluation: A mandatory psychiatric assessment of the accused HOD, with the RDA citing “past behavior and safety concerns” raised by other residents.
“Should these demands remain unaddressed, we will be compelled to escalate the matter further… to ensure justice, workplace safety, and institutional accountability,” the RDA stated in their official communication.
Counter-Narrative: The Question of Negligence
In the interest of balanced reporting, it is crucial to note that a counter-narrative has emerged from sources close to the CTVS administration. A clarification issued by a senior doctor, which circulated on medical social media networks, disputes the “assault” characterization.
This counter-claim suggests the confrontation stemmed from a critical medical error. The defense argues that the Senior Resident in question allegedly displayed negligence while treating a pediatric patient, leading to the child going into cardiac arrest. According to this version of events, the “heated argument” was a reaction to a life-threatening situation involving a minor, and physical assault has not been substantiated. The defense emphasizes that the focus should remain on the critical condition of the child, who is reportedly fighting for their life.
Expert Perspectives: The ‘Hierarchy of Silence’
While the facts of this specific altercation are under investigation, experts point to a broader systemic issue.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a public health policy expert and former fierce advocate for resident welfare (not involved in this specific incident), comments on the structural dynamics at play:
“Medicine is deeply hierarchical. While we often discuss violence from the public, ‘vertical violence’—bullying or aggression from seniors to juniors—is a silent epidemic. It is often dismissed as ‘tough love’ or ‘high-pressure management,’ but it has severe implications for patient safety. A terrified junior doctor cannot function at their peak cognitive capacity.”
Statistical Context: A Profession Under Pressure
The backdrop to this incident is a healthcare workforce already under siege.
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75% Prevalence: According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), nearly 75% of doctors in India have faced some form of violence during their practice.
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Internal Toxicity: While data on internal bullying is less robust than patient-violence data, a 2020 study published in the Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine indicated that over 50% of resident doctors reported experiencing workplace harassment from superiors.
Implications for Public Health
The immediate fallout of this standoff is the disruption of tertiary care. Safdarjung Hospital is a lifeline for thousands of patients across North India who cannot afford private healthcare.
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Service Disruption: With residents boycotting CTVS duties, planned cardiac surgeries are likely to be postponed, and critical care management in the ICU may be compromised, forcing the hospital to rely on a skeletal staff of faculty members.
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Erosion of Trust: Incidents of internal conflict erode public trust in the stability and professionalism of government hospitals.
The Road Ahead
As of Tuesday morning, the boycott remains in effect. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has extended its solidarity to the Safdarjung residents, signaling that this could escalate into a nationwide protest if the administration does not act swiftly.
The hospital administration has yet to release an official statement regarding the HOD’s status or the condition of the pediatric patient mentioned in the defense claims.
For now, the standoff continues, leaving patients caught in the crossfire of a battle over dignity, safety, and accountability in the workplace.
Medical Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.
References
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Primary Incident Report: Saha, A. (2025). “Safdarjung Hospital HoD CTVS accused of assaulting anaesthesia senior resident, doctors launch mass work boycott.” Medical Dialogues. Published Dec 1, 2025.
