DNB trainee attempts suicide over duty hours, suspended; Mumbai hospital says chargesheet was issued before

A first-year DNB general surgery trainee in Mumbai attempted suicide citing long duty hours at Saifee Hospital. The hospital has also directed that she be suspended until further notice over her claims of long duty hours. A suspension order dated September 2 instructed the trainee not to enter the hospital premises without permission of the authorities.

The trainee had earlier complained to the National Board of Examinations in Medical Science (NBEMS) , which later asked the hospital to regularise her duty hours.

Trainee’s friend, Anupam Chaudhary, a Lucknow-based doctor, told Careers360 that the trainee and her friends were made to report in the morning and work past midnight. However, while almost everyone faced the same ordeal, some could cope with it; others couldn't, Chaudhary adds.

In an email communication to Careers360 , the hospital, however, claimed that the trainee had previously been issued a show-cause notice over allegations of gross misconduct and dereliction of duty. "Subsequently, a suspension order was issued and handed over to her on September 3. A chargesheet was also served for initiating a confidential disciplinary inquiry into the allegations, including matters relating to patient care and medical services," it said.

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Shortly after the suspension order and chargesheet were served, the hospital received a telephonic message stating that the resident doctor may indulge in acts of self-harm. The hospital immediately sought police intervention and provided medical care, including physical and mental-health care and counselling, claimed the hospital.

NBEMS complaint, suicide attempt

According to Chaudhary, the trainee reached out to NBEMS and the board later asked the hospital to regularise her working hours. Following this, the hospital reduced her role to a floor RMO, with little exposure to surgical cases.

The Lucknow-based doctor further alleged that this was her second suicide attempt, and the first one was a few months ago, which was “kept under wraps”.

However, hospital authorities said that the resident had previously absconded from duties and had claimed to have inflicted self-harm. This was reported by the hospital to NBEMS as well as the police. "This should not automatically be characterised as a confirmed previous suicide attempt."

She was directed to not report to the hospital following a hearing with NBEMS officials regarding her complaint, which led to her overdosing and being admitted to the ICU. The city police have recorded her statement.

She is stable now and with her parents at their home in Bhiwandi, on the outskirts of Mumbai.

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'Provided mental health support,’ says hospital official

The DNB coordinator at Saifee Hospital, Sandeep Gaonkar, said that she was brought to the hospital after the suicide attempt but left this morning against medical advice.

"The resident doctor left the hospital against medical advice at approximately 1:45 am on September 4. The hospital had provided medical and mental-health support prior to her leaving," the hospital representative told Careers360 in the email communication.

The hospital's official communication does not state that the resident had attempted suicide by overdose or that she was admitted to an ICU as a consequence.

Show cause notice against trainee

In a show-cause notice issued on August 14, the trainee was asked to explain in writing why a confidential inquiry and suspension should not be initiated against her, failing which the undersigned may conclude that she has “no explanation to offer”.

The show-cause notice mentioned several instances in which the hospital claimed that she made “false allegations” of long duty hours, refusing to admit a patient, or putting up defamatory posts against the hospital.

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Another complaint

According to a complaint letter dated May 10 to health and family welfare, trainees fear retaliation or punitive action if they raise complaints.

A DNB general surgery trainee was forced to leave his seat last month due to unbearable duty conditions at the Saifee Hospital, the complaint letter said.

Therefore, the NBE official suggested a proper inquiry into issues such as the status of training quality or whether duty is being assigned unrelated to their specialty. The other issues include whether academic supervision is being done by qualified modern medicine specialists as mandated by NBE or whether excessive duty hours are affecting patient care.

Although the NBE official also directed the constitution of a high-level committee. The committee should hold meetings with DNB trainees to record statements without fear or victimization.

Notably, the DNB surgery trainee who resigned due to illegal duty hours should be given a fair opportunity to rejoin with written assurance of compliance with duty hour norms, the complaint letter added.

(This article has been updated with reactions from Saifee Hospital)

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.