Mumbai: Around 25 to 30 resident doctors of a total of 42 in the paediatric department of the state-run JJ Hospital, Byculla, will be holding day-long protests on Monday over allegations of harassment by the department head, which they say drove a third-year woman resident doctor to attempt suicide.The resident collapsed during her shift after ingesting a substance in the self-harm incident. In the immediate aftermath, the hospital replaced the department head, Dr Bela Verma, until further notice. The department of medical education will release its conclusions on Monday.The protesting residents are demanding the transfer of Dr Verma, similar to that of former dermatology department head Dr Mahendra Kura, who was moved to a different hospital last year following allegations of harassment by resident doctors.Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors sent a letter to the dean, Dr Ajay Bhandarwar, detailing the resident doctor’s allegations. According to the letter, the resident doctor faced verbal abuse, mental harassment, and repeated instances of ridicule since her first year by Dr Verma, who was both her academic guide and local guardian.Dr Verma told TOI: “My sympathies are with the resident, but the issue is a result of miscommunication. I have been strict with all my residents only in the interest of patient care as they all made repeated errors.” TNN
