Doctors Protests

Goa doctors warn of strike; set deadline for minister's public apology

Protests erupted at the Goa Medical College on Monday as doctors, heads of departments, interns, and medical students united against Health Minister Rane, seeking immediate apology from the minister

SC asks hospitals to regularise doctors' absence during RG Kar protests

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed hospitals, including AIIMS New Delhi, to regularise the unauthorised absence of doctors who were part of protests against the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar took note of the submissions of a doctors' body that some hospitals had regularised the absence of the doctors following its August 22, 2024 order but a few others, including AIIMS Delhi, decided to treat the period as leave of absence. "We deem it appropriate to clarify that if protesting workers had joined work post the Supreme Court order then their absence shall be regularised and not be treated as absence from duty. This is issued in peculiar facts and circumstances of the cases and is not laying down any precedent, the CJI said. The lawyer appearing for the body said the decision to treat the protest period as leave may create trouble for some of the medical PG students. Solicitor gener

RG Kar case: SC defers suo-motu hearing to Jan 29 citing paucity of time

The Supreme Court on Wednesday cited paucity of time and deferred to January 29 the hearing on the suo-motu case over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. On January 20, a Kolkata trial court awarded convict Sanjay Roy "life term imprisonment till death" in the case. The suo-motu (on its own) plea was set to be heard by the top court for the first time after the sentencing in the doctor's rape and murder which took place on August 9 last year. The heinous crime triggered nationwide outrage and prolonged protests in West Bengal. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan on Wednesday said there was paucity of time, and moreover, three fresh applications were filed in the case. "We will take it up at 2 pm on next Wednesday," the CJI said. Senior advocate Karuna Nandy, representing the Association of Junior and Senior Doctors, mentioned the plea for hearing. On December

Doctors to continue protests until all culprits in RG Kar held accountable

Doctors from various hospitals in Kolkata staged a protest rally here on Saturday expressing dissatisfaction with the conviction of prime accused Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar rape-murder case and demanded that the CBI bring to justice all those allegedly involved in the crime. Junior and senior doctors from city-based state-run hospitals, including RG Kar hospital, who took out a rally from outside the Sealdah court, said their protest would continue until the truth behind the crime was fully revealed. "While Sanjay has been convicted, what about the other culprits? How could he have committed this crime alone? The CBI's probe was based on circumstantial evidence, but where is the place of occurrence? We still have unanswered questions," junior doctor Aniket Mahato said. The agitating doctors also questioned why the central probe agency did not file any supplementary chargesheet. "Where is the supplementary chargesheet? The CBI had said that they would file one quickly," another agitat

Largest health care strike in Oregon history begins as thousands protest

Some 5,000 hospital health care workers walked off the job Friday as they picketed all eight Providence hospitals in Oregon, in what the state health workers union described as the largest health care strike in Oregon history and the first to involve doctors. Most of those participating in the open-ended strike are nurses. But in a rare move, dozens of doctors at a Portland hospital and at six women's health clinics are also partaking, making it the state's first physicians strike, according to the Oregon Nurses Association union. The strike came after more than a year of negotiations failed to produce an agreement over staffing levels, pay and benefits. The union has described chronic understaffing as detrimental to patient care, and has called for its members to have reduced caseloads, increased wages and improved benefits. Providence says it has made offers for pay raises and been fully committed to reaching an agreement. Providence said it expected up to 70 doctors to strike a

RG Kar medic rape-murder: Unprecedented protests and the quest for justice

An otherwise innocuous August day in Kolkata gave way to shock and horror in 2024, as the rape-murder of an on-duty medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital became the flashpoint for nationwide protests and calls for improved security of healthcare workers. The ghastly crime drew international condemnation as well, raising serious concerns about the safety of those associated with the health sector, especially women. The West Bengal government came under considerable strife, too, as the tragic incident led to demands by agitators for the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, besides underscoring deeper law and order issues and fueling discussions about governance and justice. The prevalence of "threat culture" at medical institutions became a talking point, which many believe could have contributed to the post-graduate trainee's death. Financial irregularities involving the hospital's superintendent, state health department officials, and the conduct of a Kolkata Police

RG Kar case: Medicos protest over delay in probe, to protest till Dec 31

Demanding speedy justice for Abhaya, representatives of Abhaya Manch and the Joint Platform of Doctors continued their protest at Dorina Crossing in Central Kolkata

Delhi govt ready to introduce law to protect doctors from violence: Atishi

The AAP government will always stand with the doctors and is prepared to introduce a law to prevent violence against them if needed, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said on Sunday. Addressing the annual conference of the Delhi State Medical Association as the chief guest, the chief minister emphasised the critical role the doctors play in the society not just as healthcare providers but also as sources of trust and emotional support. "At times, we hear about incidents of violence against the doctors. If such a need arises in Delhi, the government will bring in a Doctors Protection Act to address these concerns," she said. Highlighting the government's inclusive approach, Atishi stated that policies for healthcare professionals have always encompassed both government and private sector doctors. She recalled how the Delhi government awarded a Rs 1 crore honorarium to doctors, nurses and blood bank staff from both sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic, recognising them as COVID ...

People hold protest rallies in WB after suspects in RG Kar case get bail

A day after two key suspects in the rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar hospital got bail, the Left parties and the Congress on Saturday took out protest rallies at various locations in Kolkata, alleging that the CBI has "failed" to deliver justice in the case. They also alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal and the BJP-led Centre have a "tacit understanding". The Congress took out a procession from Rabindra Sadan area to the CBI office at Nizam Palace in southern Kolkata and criticised the central probe agency for its alleged inability to frame charges against the two accused in the case. During the procession, Congress activists were seen holding the party flags aloft and chanting slogans like 'We demand justice' and 'Bichar chai Tilottoma (Tilottoma wants justice)'. The police stopped the Congress activists from entering the Nizam Palace, which led to a scuffle between the protesters and the police personnel. Hundreds of people took part in a ral

Advocate Vrinda Grover not to represent RG Kar victim's family in courts

Senior advocate Vrinda Grover will no longer be representing the R G Kar Medical College rape-murder victim's family, sources said on Thursday. They said that the concerned trial court, before which the trial in the rape-murder case is being held, has been informed accordingly and that the counsels stand discharged from the matter. The sources said that at this stage, on account of "certain intervening factors and circumstances", senior advocate Vrinda Grover is constrained to withdraw from the case proceedings in this matter and will no longer be representing the victim's family. The chamber of advocate Grover, including advocates Soutik Banerjee and Arjun Gooptu, were requested by the victim's parents to provide legal representation before the Supreme Court, Calcutta High Court and the Sealdah sessions court and ACJM court, they said. Grover's chamber provided legal services and representation pro bono (free of cost) to the victim's family before all courts from September 2024, t

Trial of RG Kar rape-murder case commences, key accused Roy cries foul

The trial in the rape and murder case of a doctor commenced in a Kolkata court on Monday, three months after the medic's body was found inside the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here. The proceedings were held in-camera at the court of additional district and sessions judge Anirban Das. Prime accused Sanjay Roy who was present in the court during the trial, later alleged outside the court that he was framed by senior police officers including former city police commissioner Vineet Goyal. The father of the victim was present in the court as a witness, police sources said. Roy was brought to the court in the afternoon and the proceedings are being held closed door. The prime accused, while coming out of the court, again claimed that he has been framed by the administration and he was not guilty. They did not let me speak even today. I've done nothing and have been framed, Roy told reporters while being whisked away. "Senior officers are involved in this. The governm

IMA Maha conference: Docs seek stronger safety measures, cite RG Kar horror

Speakers at the 64th annual conference of the Indian Medical Association's Maharashtra chapter being held in Thane on Saturday sought stronger safety measures for medical college students, especially women. The speakers cited the rape and murder of a postgraduate student in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August, a case that made national headlines and triggered protests across the country. "Today, more than 60 per cent students of medicine are females, while it is 90 per cent in nursing, 80 per cent in dental courses and 70 per cent in physiotherapy. It is imperative that women feel as safe on campus and in the workplace as they do at home. This is our central demand from both government and private institutions," IMA national president Dr Anil J Nayak said. Highlighting the 1:1800 doctor-patient ratio in India, Nayak said it was concerning and stressed the need for improved services and infrastructure in the healthcare sector. During the day, IMA Maharashtra ...

Kolkata court frames charges against RG Kar prime accused Sanjay Roy

Eighty-seven days after the body of a woman medic was discovered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a city court on Monday framed charges against the prime accused, Sanjay Roy, who claimed he has been framed. The court announced that day-to-day trial would commence from November 11. Roy has been booked under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) Section 66 (which pertains to punishment for causing death or resulting in a persistent vegetative state) and 103 (punishment for murder). "I have done nothing. I have been framed in this rape-murder case. Nobody is listening to me. The government is framing me and threatening me not to open my mouth," Roy told reporters as he was led out of the court. In its initial charge-sheet submitted last month, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) identified Roy as the "sole prime accused" in the case. The CBI's charge-sheet also acknowledged the possibility of a "bigger conspiracy" behind the crime. On August 9, the body of the

Junior doctors call for capital punishment in RG Kar Medical College case

As November 9 marks 90 days since the incident, Dr. Rajdeep affirmed that the protests will continue until justice is served

'What is the source of your funds?' TMC min asks agitating junior doctors

Upping the ante against junior doctors who have been protesting the rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar hospital, West Bengal's Agriculture Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay sought to know the source of their funds that helped continue the agitation for over two months. Chattopadhyay was speaking at a post-Durga Puja get-together organised by the TMC at his constituency Khardaha in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday. A video of his address went viral on Thursday, triggering a fresh war of words with the junior doctors. PTI did not independently verify the authenticity of the video. "May I ask them, why are you agitating? For what reason are you agitating? Why is all the anger directed at the government?" he said. "What is the source of your funds? From where are you getting so much money?" he added. Reacting strongly, senior doctor Subarna Goswami said the "outburst" showed the discomfiture of the establishment as issues concerning the healthcare system are being .

RG Kar rape-murder: Jr doctors hold torch rally to CBI office in Kolkata

Agitating junior doctors along with common people on Wednesday evening organised a torch rally in Kolkata, demanding justice for the medic who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here on August 9. Representatives of the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum and several civil society organisations took out the procession from the West Bengal Medical Council's office in Salt Lake's Sector 3 to the CBI's office at the CGO Complex in Sector 1. Shouting slogans like 'We want justice', the participants demanded that the CBI complete its investigation into the rape-murder case quickly. "It's almost three months since the incident happened. The CBI is still investigating the matter. We want them to quicken their probe," one of the agitating doctors said. At the rally, one of the doctors held a clock in his hand as a symbol to demonstrate that time is passing since the crime took place at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, while others held torche

RG Kar case: Junior medics hold mass convention, to hold rally on Oct 30

Within five days of withdrawing their fast-unto-death, agitating junior doctors in West Bengal on Saturday held a mass convention and decided to organise a rally to the CBI's office here on October 30 demanding justice for the RG Kar victim. Following the mass convention held at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the attending doctors from various state-run medical establishments and representatives of civil society and celebrities from the Bengali entertainment industry organised a 'candle and fire torch' rally. "It's been more than two-and-a-half months since our beloved sister was tortured and murdered and we still don't know who the real culprit is. So, at today's mass convention we have decided to hold a rally to the CBI office at CGO Complex on October 30," Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating doctors, said. The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (WBJDF) on Saturday organised the mass convention to strategise their next move to seek justice for the RG Kar victim and ensure tha

Parents of RG Kar murder victim seek Amit Shah's help in fight for justice

The victim's father conveyed the immense mental pressure they are facing and sought Union Home Minister Amit Shah's insights, guidance, and assistance

RG Kar: Meeting between CM, junior docs to resolve impasse ends after 2 hrs

The much-awaited meeting between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and agitating junior doctors began at the state secretariat 'Nabanna' on Monday evening to resolve the ongoing impasse arising out of the rape-and-murder of a medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August. Seventeen doctors from various medical colleges in the state joined the meeting chaired by Banerjee. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, Health Secretary NS Nigam, DGP Rajeev Kumar, MSVPs, and principals of the medical colleges in the city were also present at the meeting.

Amid CM's appeal to withdraw stir, doctors' hunger strike enters 16th day

Amid West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's request to agitating junior doctors to withdraw their indefinite hunger strike and come for talks, the 'fast-unto-death' of the medics demanding justice for the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder victim entered the 16th day on Sunday. Taking forward the proposal for talks, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Saturday evening invited the medics for talks with Banerjee for "45 minutes" from 5 pm on Monday at state secretariat Nabanna, conditional upon the "withdrawal of the hunger strike". However, the protesting doctors refused to end their hunger strike until all their demands were met but agreed to join the talks on Monday. Banerjee on Saturday spoke to the agitating doctors over phone during a visit by Pant and Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty to the protest site in Kolkata's Esplanade area and urged them to end the hunger strike, stating that most of their demands have been addressed while rejecting their insistence on removing the state ...