Outrage post suicide by Rohtak doc ‘over leave’

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, June 15

Patient-care services at the PGIMS here remained affected for the second day today as  resident doctors continued to boycott work following suicide by an MD student.

They demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the family of Dr Omkar, who allegedly killed himself on Thursday night on being denied leave for his sister’s wedding, and the arrest of Prof Geeta Gathwala, Head, Paediatrics Department. The HoD has been suspended and booked for abetment to suicide.

The authorities said the resident doctors’ demands had been sent to the state authorities for approval. In order to ensure emergency medical services to patients, the authorities cancelled leave of all faculty members and consultants, stationing them at the Emergency wing and OPDs.

The talks between the authorities of the University of Health Sciences (UHS), PGIMS, and representatives of the resident doctors were in progress till the filing of this report. “We have constituted a grievances redressal cell headed by Dr Shashi Bala, Senior Professor at the Rohtak PGIDS, and comprising among others faculty members of PGIMS, colleges of physiology, pharmacy and nursing as well as representatives of students,” said UHS VC Prof OP Kalra. He said a 24X7 helpline facility would be started soon.

Inspector Kailash Chander, the SHO of the PGIMS police station, said Dr Geeta’s residence on the PGIMS campus was found locked.