A 31-year-old female trainee doctor was found deceased under tragic circumstances at RG Kar Medical College, one of the oldest hospitals in India. After spending a demanding day at work, she went to sleep in a seminar hall early Friday morning, and was last seen alive at that time. The following morning, colleagues discovered her partially unclothed with multiple injuries. Police have since arrested a hospital volunteer in connection with what has been described as a case of rape and murder.
In response to this incident, around 30,000 women are expected to participate in a march in Kolkata titled “Reclaim the Night,” advocating for “independence to live in freedom and without fear.” This event is set to take place at midnight on Wednesday, just before India’s Independence Day. Frustrated medical professionals have initiated strikes across the city and the country, demanding robust national legislation to protect healthcare workers.
The incident has once again spotlighted the ongoing violence against doctors and nurses in India, particularly highlighting the vulnerability of female healthcare workers. With women comprising 80% of the nursing workforce and over 30% of doctors, they are often more at risk. The shocking crime underscores the significant security challenges faced by medical staff in public healthcare settings.
Trainee doctors at RG Kar Hospital, which caters to over 3,500 patients daily, often work grueling shifts that last up to 36 hours, leaving them to seek refuge in less secure spaces like seminar rooms. The accused, who has a troubling history, reportedly had unfettered access to hospital areas and was seen on surveillance footage, with no background checks conducted according to police investigations.
Dr. Madhuparna Nandi, a young physician at the nearby National Medical College, expressed the fear that has emerged following this incident, stating, “We simply go home to relax; the hospital has always been our first home. We had no idea it could be this dangerous.” Her experience reflects the broader reality facing female doctors in government hospitals in India, who regularly navigate unsafe working conditions.