Page 12 - Doctors Protests

'Declare hospitals as safe zones, give compensation to victim's family'

All hospitals across the country should be declared safe zones like airports so that doctors can work without fear, Indian Medical Association (IMA) chief Dr R V Asokan said on Friday. This is one of the five demands of the IMA, which has declared a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency medical services (from 6 am on Saturday to 6 am on Sunday) to protest against the alleged rape and killing of a trainee woman doctor and vandalism at a state-run medical college in Kolkata. "Airports are safe zones with a three-layer security, so at least in major hospitals, there has to be a security protocol and they should be declared as safe zones as that will entitle them for a mandatory security protocol," Asokan told PTI. Secondly, there should be a central law to check violence on healthcare workers, he said. Asokan said 25 states have laws against attacks on doctors and hospitals but there have been no convictions so far. These laws are mostly ineffective on the ground and do not .

Kolkata doctor's rape-murder: Colleagues involved in crime, kins tell CBI

The parents of the woman doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last week, have told the CBI that a few interns and physicians of the same medical establishment were involved in the crime, an officer said on Friday. The parents also provided the central agency, which is conducting the probe into the case on an order of the Calcutta High Court, with names of those who they suspect to be associated with their daughter's killing in the state-run hospital. "The parents told us that they suspect the involvement of multiple persons behind the sexual assault and murder of their daughter. They have given us names of a few interns and doctors working with their daughter at the RG Kar Hospital," the CBI officer said. The central agency officer said that they were giving priority to questioning the doctors and officers of the Kolkata Police who were part of the investigation. "We have zeroed in on at least 30 names whom we will be calling f

Kolkata doc rape-murder: Akhilesh accuses BJP of making political benefits

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday slammed the BJP and accused them of making "political benefits" from the Kolkata medic's rape and murder case. While answering a question regarding the incident, Yadav said, "Any incident with a woman across the country is sad. Action should be taken against it. Mamata Banerjee is a female chief minister, and she will take action. But these people of BJP are doing politics." "BJP has a talent for doing politics on every incident. BJP has the talent of taking political benefit over every incident and dishonouring others," he added. Before interacting with the media, Akhilesh Yadav offered flowers on the statue of freedom fighter Maharani Avantibai Lodhi here to mark her birth anniversary. The statue is located right outside the gate of BJP's state headquarters in Lucknow. Answering a question about the upcoming by-election in UP, Yadav said, "Whenever by-elections will come, the public will defeat the BJP." By-elections are to be h

Kolkata rape-murder case: Delhi doctors' indefinite strike enters fifth day

Doctors in Delhi, who had been demonstrating inside their respective hospitals, united for a massive protest outside Nirman Bhawan as their indefinite strike, following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, entered its fifth day on Friday with all elective services remaining suspended. The Nirman Bhawan, located near Parliament in Lutyens' Delhi, houses the Ministry of Health besides other departments. Resident doctors are standing on the side of the road outside Nirman Bhawan, with a heavy presence of police officers who have placed barricades on both sides of the road. The doctors are holding posters and banners, and chanting slogans like 'We want justice', 'No safety, no duty' and 'Awaz do, hum ek hain' to express their anger and concerns about their safety. Dr Rahul, a resident doctor, expressed the collective grief and anger, saying, "It's been a week since this horrific incident occurred, and we've been protesting for five days. It's unimaginable that a doctor,

Kolkata doc rape-murder: Pradhan attacks Mamata, says no room for politics

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for accusing the opposition parties of being behind the vandalism at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital saying that there can be "no room for politics" on the rape and murder of the junior doctor. Pradhan alleged that Banerjee's attempt to cover up, stifle dissent and shield perpetrators raises serious questions. "There has been complete systemic failure in West Bengal time and again. But the blame lies on 'Bam and Ram'. Absolutely disgusting, shameful and reprehensible statement from Mamata Didi. The day is not far when Mamata Didi will even blame aliens and extraterrestrials for her misrule," Pradhan wrote in a post on X. "With appeasement politics as her fulcrum of politics, Mamata Didi still has to take refuge of Lord Ram to cover her abysmal failures. Justice needs to be delivered and perpetrators need to be dealt with the harshest punishment. There can be no room for ...

Doctor rape-murder: Delhi Police issues prohibitory orders in central Delhi

Delhi Police issued prohibitory orders in the central areas of the national capital amid protest calls by multiple organisations against the Kolkata rape-murder case on Friday, officials said. Deployment of police personnel has been increased and Section 163 (prohibitory orders) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been imposed near the Parliament and other parts of central Delhi, they said. A Delhi Police officer said the city remains on alert due to Independence Day celebrations. Due to the protests announced, traffic at some intersections in central Delhi have been diverted, he said. The alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has triggered widespread protests in many parts of the country. Multiple resident doctors' associations (RDAs), including those from AIIMS, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, have announced a protest meet near Nirman Bhawan on Friday. The Federation of Resident Doctors ...

Medic rape: AIIMS doctors demand Central Protection Act for medical workers

Junior doctors and medical students at AIIMS Mangalagiri, Andhra also staged a protest and performed a street play to protest against rape and murder of a woman resident doctor in Kolkata

RG Kar Hospital vandalism: HC fumes at Mamata govt; CBI to probe mob attack

Kolkata doctor's death: The court criticised the Mamata Banerjee government, questioning how a mob of 7,000 could breach the RG Kar Hospital on August 15 without it being a state failure

Kolkata rape-murder update: Mamata blames Oppn for unrest; protests today

Kolkata rape-murder: Major protests planned today by political parties TMC, BJP, and CPM, as well as the Indian Medical Association (IMA)

19 arrested for vandalism and violence at Kolkata's RG Kar hospital

Kolkata Police on Friday said it has so far arrested 19 people in connection with the vandalism and violence at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in the metropolis. Those arrested were remanded to police custody by a city court till August 22, officials said. The emergency ward, nursing station, medicine store and parts of the outpatient department of the hospital were vandalised by miscreants on Thursday amid midnight protests by women across West Bengal, condemning the alleged rape and murder of a doctor in the hospital's seminar hall on August 9. Several persons, including some policemen, were injured in the violence. Meanwhile, the cease work by junior doctors at government healthcare facilities, protesting the rape-murder of the postgraduate trainee, continued on Friday. The agitating doctors have been demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits and enhanced security at workplace. Opposition parties in the state have accused the police of not taking adequate action wh

Medic murder: Resident Doctors' Associations to hold protest march in Delhi

Delhi Medical Association (DMA) also held an emergency meeting to discuss the rape-murder incident on Thursday and the association has decided to hold a candle march at India Gate at 5 PM on Friday

RG Kar hospital vandalism: 'May take weeks to restore earlier look'

Rooms and spaces housing 18 departments have been vandalised by a mob in state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and it may take weeks for restoration, a senior official of the health department said on Thursday. Massive vandalism was witnessed in the emergency, staffers' room, changing room for nurses and medicine store in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, he said, adding almost all the CCTV cameras were also broken. A portion of the seminar hall, where a woman doctor was allegedly raped and murdered, was also vandalised and doors were damaged, he said. A group of around 40 people entered the hospital and vandalised the emergency department, nursing station, and medicine store, while also damaging CCTV cameras and ransacking a stage where junior doctors had been demonstrating since August 9 protesting the alleged rape and murder of the woman postgraduate trainee there and demanding security at their workplace. "Massive destruction was carried out by these ...

JU professors announce cease-work on Friday to protest against doc attacks

The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association has called for a day-long cease-work on Friday to protest the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. In a statement, the association denounced any attempts to conceal evidence related to the rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor and demanded justice for the victim's family. "We also demand a high-level impartial probe into alleged attacks on nursing students and medics by miscreants on the intervening night of August 14-15," JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Roy told PTI on Thursday. To emphasise these demands, JUTA will observe a full day cease-work on August 16, alongside a sit-in from 1 pm to 3 pm at the administrative building, Aurobindo Bhavan. Coincidentally, SUCI (Communists) has also called for a 12-hour general strike in the state on the same day, addressing the same issue. Nurses protested on Thursday morning against the vandalism at the state-run hospital in Kolkata, hours after unidentified miscreants .

Kolkata medic rape-murder: FORDA resumes strike after facing backlash

A resident doctors' federation on Thursday announced to continue its protest here over the alleged rape-murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, a day after medics slammed it for calling off the agitation following the health ministry's "verbal" assurance to meet its demands, including bringing a law to curb attacks on medical personnel. Resident doctors across major government hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS, VMMC-Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, shut down elective services on Monday morning and went on strike, demanding better security and safety measures for medical personnel, and the central law. The announcement by the Federation of Resident Doctors' Associations (FORDA) came after Resident Doctors' Associations (RDAs) of many hospitals on Wednesday accused it of taking the decision to end the protest without consulting them and "backstabbing" the medical fraternity. FORDA members met Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Tuesday night and submitted a letter o

Parties trying to foment trouble: CM Mamata on RG Kar hospital vandalism

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused opposition political parties of being behind the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here. Banerjee said she does not hold the students or doctors responsible for their protests and instead, she accused certain political parties of attempting to incite trouble. "Police are looking into the matter. I don't have any complaints against the students or the agitating doctors. But there are certain political parties which are trying to foment trouble. If you go through the video, you will get to see what happened," she said. Around midnight, a group of around 40 people, posing as protesters, entered the hospital, vandalising the emergency department, nursing station, and medicine store, while also damaging CCTV cameras and ransacking a stage where junior doctors had been demonstrating since August 9.

Medic murder: Bengal Guv visits RG Kar hospital, meets agitating jr doctors

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday visited RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here to take stock of the situation following vandalism by unidentified miscreants. Bose spoke to the agitating junior doctors at the medical establishment where the body of a postgraduate trainee doctor was found last week. "I am with you and we will work together to solve this. I assure you justice. My ears and eyes are open," Bose told the students. The Governor also inspected the Emergency Department, where vandalism took place the previous night.

RG Kar vandalism: BJP demands Mamata's resignation amid protests

The BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the vandalism at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where junior doctors were on cease work protesting the alleged rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee last week. The hooliganism that took place in the early hours of Thursday at R G Kar Hospital crossed all limits, ruling TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said, asking the police to arrest every perpetrator, regardless of their political affiliations, within a day. "When peaceful citizens of West Bengal took to the streets, vicious thugs, in a premeditated strike, ransacked RG Kar Hospital, leaving chaos and injuries in their wake," the BJP said in an X post. The vandalism took place amid midnight protests by thousands of women in various parts of the state against the alleged rape and murder of the doctor in the seminar hall of the hospital. "Where was Kolkata Police during this brutal assault? Hiding in the shadows, only

Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Delhi's major hospitals continue strike

Resident doctors at major hospitals here, including the AIIMS and Safdarjung, remained on strike on Wednesday over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, disrupting elective services for the third consecutive day. Frustrated by the lack of consultation with the Resident Doctors' Associations (RDAs) of several hospitals, members expressed their disappointment and accused the Federation of Resident Doctors' Associations (FORDA), which called off its strike, of backstabbing the fraternity. Following a meeting with Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Tuesday night, FORDA decided to end the strike. Doctors at the GTB Hospital, who were part of the delegation, initially called off their indefinite strike on Wednesday morning but later resumed it in support of the RDAs. The RDAs of major hospitals including AIIMS, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia, Indira Gandhi Hospital, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College continued the strike f

OPD services hit across hospitals as doctors continue strike for 3rd day

A drop of 20% and 40% was reported in laboratory tests and radiological interventions like X-rays and CT scans, respectively

Kolkata medic rape-murder: AIIMS, Safdarjung doctors to continue strike

Several city hospitals, including the AIIMS and Safdarjung, continued their strike on Wednesday in protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. The Resident Doctors' Associations of AIIMS, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Indira Gandhi Hospital continued the strike for a third day on the trot, shutting down OPDs, OTs, and wards. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), after a meeting with Resident Doctor Associations (RDAs) from across states and Institutes of National Importance, in a statement said it will stand with its peers nationwide in denouncing the murder and continue its strike. The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA), however, called off its strike after a meeting with Union Health Minister J P Nadda at his residence on Tuesday night. The association said the decision to end the strike was taken in the interest of the welfare of patients. FORDA said, "A key outcome of the meeting was the