Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: OPD Services Hit By Nationwide Doctors' Protest

Doctors across India have gone on strike, suspending all non-urgent elective services, in response to the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old resident doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India (FORDA) initiated the strike, urging medical associations nationwide to demand justice and enhanced security measures for healthcare workers.

The victim, who had just completed a 36-hour shift, was found brutally assaulted in the seminar hall of the hospital. She suffered multiple injuries, including a broken neck, and an autopsy confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted and murdered. Sanjay Roy, a volunteer at the hospital, was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.

In light of the incident, doctors are demanding a thorough investigation, swift justice, and the implementation of stringent security protocols in hospitals. The principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, resigned from his position and government service on Monday, facing criticism for failing to ensure staff safety.

The strike has received widespread support from resident doctors' associations (RDAs) across the country. In New Delhi, 10 government hospitals, including Maulana Azad Medical College and AIIMS, have suspended elective services. Protests have also spread to other states, with resident doctors at NIMHANS in Bengaluru and several medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh joining the strike. In Maharashtra, the state's Association of Resident Doctors announced the suspension of all non-emergency services until the demands of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College residents are met.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the All India Medical Students' Association have both called for a fair investigation, with many resident doctors demanding that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The protests, which began in Kolkata, have now entered their fifth day, with interns and postgraduate trainees at state-run medical establishments across West Bengal continuing their agitation. Despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's promise of action within seven days, the protesting students have criticized the delay and vowed to continue their strike until justice is served.

Meanwhile, a doctor named Diksha Bajaj, speaking to ANI, said: "...Doctors spend more time in hospitals than they do at their home. This is our second home. If we are not safe here, where will be safe? We demand our safety and nothing else. We are serving the patients but our safety is important too...If we are not safe, how will we do our work?...We want justice. We will call of our strike, once we get justice."