Surat Medical College Suspends 4 Doctors Over Ragging Allegations After Resident’s Death

Surat: Four resident doctors have been suspended for six months following the death by suicide of a 29-year-old postgraduate medical student at Government Medical College (GMC), Surat. The action comes amid allegations that the student had spoken about harassment by senior doctors.

Statements were recorded before a high-level committee jointly chaired by Medical Superintendent Dr Parul Vadgama and Civil Hospital Dean Dr Jayesh Brahmbhatt. The committee examined complaints submitted by nine first-year resident doctors as well as the student’s father.

Based on the committee’s findings, four resident doctors Dr Nirali Vasave, Dr Anuj Maheshwari, Dr Dikshita Ghevariya and Dr Hina Bhut were suspended for six months for alleged indiscipline and gross negligence.

The four doctors have also been directed to vacate their hostel rooms immediately and barred from participating in academic activities during the suspension period.

Meanwhile, four faculty members, including Head of the Microbiology Department Dr Sumaiya Mulla, Dr Sangeeta Rajde, Dr Yogita Mistry and Dr Latika Purohit, have been issued show-cause notices.

The Anti-Ragging Committee’s report was unanimously approved by the college council and submitted to the state government early Monday morning. The committee recorded statements through the night, continuing until around 4 am, while the suspension order was issued at 5 am.

Meanwhile, Harsh’s relative Shailesh Pathak said the family initially agreed to the postmortem while they were in a state of shock and emotional distress. However, after developing doubts about the circumstances of his death, they approached the Dean and Medical Superintendent and sought a second postmortem and forensic examination.

The postmortem and forensic investigation by the FSL are currently underway, he said.

Pathak also alleged that similar incidents had occurred at the Civil Hospital in the past and referred to the earlier death of another doctor, Ankit. He claimed that despite students raising complaints about harassment by seniors, adequate action was not taken. DeshGujarat