Two days after a second-year junior resident doctor alleged harassment by a senior professor at JJ Hospital in Byculla, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) demanded that the administration take stringent action against the professor. MARD said it would take “necessary action” if their demands were not met within four days.
The doctor had on Monday written to MARD at JJ Hospital and the Central MARD about “mental and financial harassment” at the hands of professor Dr. Rajashree Katke, professor, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, J.J. Hospital. The doctor had alleged that she was being harassed for the past two years and that she felt suicidal.
The association of resident doctors called for an urgent meeting on Wednesday evening, after the doctor started receiving anonymous calls. “After the allegations were out in the public, the doctor started getting calls from anonymous numbers asking her for evidence behind her claims. This is nothing but an attempt to pressurise a doctor who is already under stress,” Dr. Umang Shandilaya, president, JJ-MARD, said. In a statement issued on Wednesday night, the association of resident doctors from the hospital demanded setting up of a neutral fast-track enquiry committee against Dr. Katke. They have also asked for expediting the previous enquiries against her, deputing her in another institute, and her removal from the examiner panel of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and as a post-graduate guide.
The association plans to put out an online complaint form live on Facebook from Thursday morning to let other doctors report similar incidents and to garner support for the resident doctor.
The association has said that if their demands are not met in the next four days, they will take further action. “Since Monday, there has been immense pressure on the resident doctor who has come out against harassment from Dr. Katke. We stand with her in this difficult time. We will not let any doctor be treated mercilessly by anybody. We have heard about previous incidents where Dr. Katke has been under the scanner. We want strict action against her,” Dr. Shandilaya said.
Dr. Katke told The Hindu , “I am not aware of this development. Kindly contact the authorities.”
