A DAY after the West Bengal government suspended 12 doctors including six postgraduate trainees of the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital (MMCH), for “negligence” in the wake of the death of a woman after she gave birth, the junior doctors of MMCH, launched an “indefinite” cease work on Friday morning, demanding withdrawal of the suspension orders and alleging that they are being “scapegoated for systemic failures”.
However, on Friday morning, hospital services were mostly normal as doctors partially lifted the strike, saying that they were “prioritising care of patients”.
“We are organising a partial strike and will ensure that patient services are not disrupted,” said Dr Sayon Ghosh, a junior doctor. “Further protest plans will be decided soon.”
In a letter to the college principal, the junior doctors expressed their “deep dismay”, saying that they were being “framed as enemies of the society” while striving to save lives. They alleged that the suspensions were an attempt to divert attention from “adverse drug reactions and multiple deficits and corruptions in the health system on the part of the administration.”
The protesting junior doctors are also emphasising the need for a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the matter.
Last week, a woman died and three others fell critically ill after childbirth at the state-run medical college. The families of all the women alleged that expired intravenous (IV) fluid was administered to the women, leading to the worsening of their health condition. Those suspended included the Resident Medical Officer of Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, two assistant professors, a head of the
department, a senior resident doctor, medical superintendent-and-vice principal of the hospital apart from six post-graduate trainees.
On Thursday, 12 doctors, including six postgraduate trainees (PGTs), were suspended by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and she stated that the CID could press criminal charges against those suspended.
In response, 22 junior doctors in the gynecology and anaesthesia departments initiated a cease-work on Thursday night in the maternity department of the hospital.
“We have started a cease work here at the MMCH protesting the suspension of our six colleagues at the OBGN and anaesthesia departments following the death of a woman and critical condition of three others,” one of the junior doctors said.
The move to suspend the 12 doctors was aimed at diverting attention from adverse drug reactions besides multiple deficits and corruptions in the health system, he alleged.
“All junior doctors of the MMCH stand in solidarity with our fellow colleagues in this state of moral crisis, and announce complete cease work from today morning (8 AM),” the junior doctor added.
The state health department has filed a police complaint against the suspended doctors. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has also booked the doctors allegedly linked to the “saline contamination” at Medinipur Medical College under sections of culpable homicide (105), endangering human life (125 B), and disobeying law (198) of the Indian Penal Code. This comes after a complaint from the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of Paschim Medinipur.
The case was registered at the Kotwali Police Station.
Dr Manas Gumta, a general surgery professor and member of the Joint Platform of Doctors, claimed, “There is no order of suspension for any postgraduate (PGT) or junior doctor yet. There are no standard operating procedures (SOPs) for operating theaters, and there is no mention of PGT duties in their curriculum. Their role primarily involves demonstration, observation, assistance, and performance under the supervision of seniors.”
— with PTI