‘Student suicides reduced to numbers’: UDF wants administration accountability in medical colleges

Expressing grave concern over the rising cases of suicides among medical students, the United Doctors Front (UDF) has demanded the implementation of strict measures and establishing of accountability of the administration.

The doctors’ association pointed to the recent student suicide wherein a second-year BDS student, Jyoti Sharma, at Sharda University, Noida, took her own life. In her suicide note, she accused two professors of mental harassment. UDF chairperson Lakshya Mittal has demanded their immediate arrest.

Another incident has come to light, the doctors’ group noted, at JJ Medical College, Mumbai, where a JR-3 pediatric student attempted suicide. Social media reports point to the involvement of a faculty member. UDF demanded a thorough investigation into this matter as well. Due to fear, the victim is hesitant to come forward, the association alleged, and thus urged that the student be provided legal protection and action be taken against the culprits.

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Student suicides in medical colleges

UDF emphasized that urgent measures are needed to address the mental health issues of medical students. The toxic environment in medical colleges, caused by excessive working hours imposed on resident doctors, must be addressed immediately.

The doctors' group demanded that strict measures be implemented to safeguard the mental and physical health of medical students. In cases of suicide or suicide attempts, the accountability of deans, principals, department heads, and faculty must be established.

“Currently, the lack of accountability reduces medical student suicides to mere statistics,” it said and informed that it has approached the Supreme Court to seek justice in this matter.