KANYAKUMARI: Following the recent suicide of a second year PG medical student at a private medical college in Kanyakumari, the Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association (TNRDA) has demanded for a fair and transparent probe and to ensure women doctors are protected against workplace sexual harassment.
A 27-year-old woman Post Graduate (PG) medical student from Tuticorin, who was studying at a private medical college in Kulasekharam, died by suicide in her hostel room on Friday by injecting herself with a muscle relaxant. In the suicide note, she mentioned that she was facing mental distress due to three professors, including a woman professor, were ‘torturing’ her mentally. She also stated that one of them, a male professor, was also sexually harassing her. A case was registered at Kulasekharam police station based on the girl’s father’s complaint and further investigation is on.
Highlighting the urgent need to address sexual harassment in workplaces, the TNRDA, led by president Dr Vignesh Rajendran, has demanded for a fair, transparent and thorough probe. The association demanded justice for the deceased student and for action to be taken against the erring professors. “The institution has so far not given any explanations or response regarding the suicide or what action they are taking, nor has it communicated properly to the victim’s family as to what happened. They must provide clarity. We also seek for the submission of the autopsy preliminary report and forensic chemical analysis report to be fast tracked,” said Dr P Vimala, president, women wing of TNRDA.
