Mumbai : The recent incident of suicide attempted by a resident doctor of KEM coupled with a case of an assault on another resident doctor of the same hospital has raised questions about the security and working conditions of the doctors in the hospital. However, the investigation is underway in both the cases.
The increasing numbers of incidents have worried Central Maharashtra Association Of Resident Doctors (MARD) doctors who have been emphasising on better working environment and strong security measures for the doctors in the civic hospitals.
A 23-year-old resident doctor at KEM Hospital tried to kill himself by slitting his wrists twice last week, later telling officials that he was overworked and could not handle the stress.
Meanwhile, a 30-year-old KEM resident doctor from Urology department was assaulted by patient and kin in the wee hours of the hospital on Thursday. However, the accused in the case has still not been arrested as she is admitted to the hospital owing to her illness. Also, an FIR has been under Doctors Protection Act, 2010.
The 23-year-old resident doctor who attempted suicide underwent treatment in the intensive care unit for four days and was discharged on Monday. KEM officials have begun an inquiry to assess the workload of resident doctors and identify measures to help them cope with the stress. Dr. Sagar Mundada, Central MARD president said, “This incident has come into light at such point when MARD doctors have been constantly requesting the government to follow the 48 hours week/order of Supreme court of 1987.”
