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Mumbai:
A third-year paediatrics resident at Sir Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals attempted suicide, allegedly driven to the edge by persistent harassment and a toxic work environment within the department. The incident has sparked an indefinite strike by resident doctors, who are demanding sweeping changes and the immediate transfer of the department’s head.
Details of the Incident
The resident reportedly attempted to end her life by consuming Lorazepam tablets. She was discovered in time, rushed to the casualty department, and stabilised in the MICU. Reports from her peers suggest that she had endured ongoing harassment and discrimination by the head of the paediatrics department, who also served as her postgraduate guide and local guardian.
Colleagues allege repeated instances of public humiliation, belittlement in front of patient relatives, and unfair professional treatment. These actions, they say, caused severe mental anguish and led her to seek psychiatric help on several occasions. Matters escalated when she was allegedly threatened with being barred from taking her MD exams.
According to a statement released by the department’s students, her final desperate attempt to communicate her mental state to the HoD went unanswered the day before the incident.
Allegations of a Toxic Work Environment
Residents have publicly decried what they describe as years of “systematic abuse and torture” in the department, including:
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Daily verbal humiliation and unfair treatment
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Favouritism in work assignments, with certain “good residents” given preferential postings
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Arbitrary decisions such as unexplained pay cuts
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Neglect of residents’ physical, mental, or emotional well-being
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Lack of trust and constant blame-shifting from the HoD
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A culture so negative that past residents refuse to return as faculty
They allege that fear of retaliation has kept many from speaking out earlier.
Demands and Strike Action
Following the suicide attempt, paediatric department residents initiated an indefinite strike. Their key demand is the permanent transfer of the current HoD. They stress that patient care and doctor welfare should not be sacrificed to personal egos or institutional inertia, and pledge to continue their protest until meaningful change is secured.
Solidarity and Wider Reaction
The Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors (MSRDA) and Maharashtra Senior Resident Doctors Association (Central MARD) have both voiced strong support for the striking residents. In joint letters to state medical authorities, the associations condemned the “tragic and alarming” incident, stressing that it reflects deep-seated problems rather than being an isolated tragedy.
Their demands include:
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Immediate suspension of the current paediatrics HoD pending an inquiry
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Time-bound, independent investigation into the department’s work culture
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Psychological support for resident doctors
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Robust grievance redressal mechanisms across all departments
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Formal assurances against future workplace toxicity
The associations have warned that if authorities fail to act, the protest could escalate to a statewide level.
“We demand that this incident be treated with utmost urgency and seriousness. The toxic leadership and the oppressive departmental environment are not just unethical — they are life-threatening,” the associations emphasized.
Previous Complaints
The paediatrics department is not the only one under scrutiny: prior allegations led to strikes over similar issues in the dermatology department at Sir Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital, highlighting what resident doctors say is a persistent culture issue within the institution.
Disclaimer
This article is based on statements and reports from resident doctors and professional associations as described in the cited source. The allegations contained herein remain subject to further investigation and due process by the appropriate authorities. No conclusions regarding individual culpability should be drawn until such investigations are complete.
