Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder: To these medical students, the loss of ‘bhalo didi’ is deeply personal

KOLKATA: To interns and juniors, she was “bhalo didi” – the good older sister. Always approachable and unfailingly kind, she made an impression on the other doctors training at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. Anubhav Mondal, an MBBS intern at the medical college, spent just one week in chest medicine but when his grandfather needed treatment, he took him to her.

The ‘Kolkata rape-murder case’ has led to massive protests, especially among doctors and medical students, nationwide. But for several young doctors-in-training like Mondal, the rape and murder of the young resident on Friday, August 9, is a loss deeply personal. “I myself also approached her when I had any medical issues. She used to treat us like brothers," said Mondal. Even when they saw each other at the hospital, she was friendly and inquired about his well-being.

Such warmth was not common at RG Kar. Her treatment of others stood out because of the atmosphere of fear and oppression that generally prevailed at RG Kar, say students. Every protesting RG Kar student Careers360 spoke to alleged bullying and favouritism by the administration, especially by the former principal, Dr. Sandip Ghosh and a phalanx of students who allegedly stuck to him and did his bidding and were, in turn, favoured in exams and promotions. These allegations were repeated by numerous doctors at the protest but could not be independently verified by Careers360. Ghosh resigned and was immediately put in charge of another hospital. Students want the entire lot of senior administrators gone.

The arrest of a civic volunteer by the beleaguered and much-reviled Kolkata Police has left students deeply sceptical. The scale and nature of the injuries suggest more than one perpetrator, they say, and the ultimate culprit is the system of RG Kar Medical College itself – its vitiated atmosphere, its allegedly self-interested administration, the long work hours, the absence of security and facilities.

Some of these complaints and demands have resonated with students in medical colleges across the country. A National Medical Commission survey report released recently revealed that a fifth of PG medical students work 80 hours a week and over half go without weekly offs.

On August 17, dozens of doctors’ and medical students’ associations, large and small, observed a 24-hour strike demanding protection and better work conditions for doctors; solidarity statements poured in even from Pakistan and Bangladesh. On the eve of Independence Day, a ‘reclaim the night’ protest at RG Kar was disrupted by a violent mob attack at night.

Kolkata Doctor Death: Mentoring students

The NMC report also reveals that medical students reported being exploited and harassed by seniors. The doctor who was so shockingly brutalised was different.

"She used to share her phone number with us and gave us permission to call her at any time and talk to her or request her to come and examine any patient which we were not able to address," said Alamgir Sheikh, another intern. “This level of accessibility was unusual, yet it demonstrated her commitment to ensuring that patients received the best care possible, even if it meant additional work for herself.”

“Additional work” means quite something else for resident doctors. The victim had been on a 36-hour on-call shift when she had gone to the seminar room for some quiet and rest on that fateful Friday night. At a tertiary-care hospital like RG Kar Medical College, the patient load is huge and the pressure on doctors, punishingly high.

"Their work is very hectic, they have duty for 36 hours at a stretch, but she always helped us interns and filled in for us if we were occupied," Sheikh added. He once fell ill and was late to the hospital. “She took up the responsibility of being with the patient in my absence," he said. This sense of responsibility and care for both her patients and colleagues set her apart. Despite the demanding schedule, she remained a reliable and supportive presence for her colleagues and juniors.

Dr Subhendu Mallick, the young woman’s senior at college by three years and currently pursuing a super-specialisation, concurred. He also insisted that he saw no evidence of a mental health crisis or depression, otherwise common in medical colleges, in her. The fact that her family was first told that the young woman’s death was a suicide is a cause of outrage among students.

R G Kar Medical College principal

It is easy to see why the administrators of RG Kar have become the focal point of students’ anger. Ghosh and his supporters are seen as corrupt bullies. Mondal had even been asked to vacate his hostel for participating in a rally organised by Medical Colleges Kolkata (MCK).

The principal’s influence was so pervasive that students who defied his directives allegedly faced severe consequences, including threats. "Whoever spoke against him would be punished," Mondal added.

The investigation is now with the Central Bureau of Investigation on the intervention of the Calcutta High Court . The CBI has reportedly identified 30 suspects and has started questioning them as well as Dr Sandip Ghosh. "Here in the hospital, everyone knows that the way she was raped and murdered is not the work of a single person; a number of people were involved," Sheikh said. This is a widespread belief and fuelled the demand for a more thorough investigation.