Santipur, Jan. 3: A 35-year-old female physician employed at a state government hospital in Nadia has filed a police report claiming that the hospital superintendent issued threats against her, suggesting she could face repercussions similar to those experienced by “Abhaya,” a victim in a notable case at RG Kar Hospital. This intimidation reportedly occurred after she declined to follow directives that she deemed unreasonable.
The alleged threats, which included implications of a sexual assault, arose after the doctor expressed her concerns regarding the denial of duties in her area of specialization as an MD in Pathology. She also highlighted the superintendent’s insistence on her taking night shifts, despite the lack of adequate security measures at the hospital and the absence of a designated rest area for female doctors working during those hours.
Since her appointment as a senior resident pathologist in September of the previous year, following a transfer from a Burdwan hospital, the doctor has claimed that she has not been assigned any pathology-related responsibilities. Instead, she has been compelled to manage patients requiring specialized care in fields such as cardiology, neurology, general surgery, and pediatrics, areas in which she lacks proper training. This situation has not only caused her significant mental distress but has also led to health issues that necessitated counseling sessions.
She further alleged workplace harassment, saying, “The superintendent’s behavior has been discriminatory and rude, with apparent gender bias. Despite my protests, he blatantly refused to assign me duties in pathology, citing that the department already has sufficient staff. Instead, I was relegated to general duties.”
The superintendent has denied the allegations, dismissing them as “baseless.” He claimed, “Duty assignments are made by a roster committee. Other pathology doctors also undertake general duties. It seems she is unwilling to work or planning a transfer due to the workload.” He also denied meeting the doctor on the day of the alleged threat.
Meanwhile, Nadia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Jyotish Chandra Das, has ordered a probe into the allegations and constituted a five-member committee to investigate the matter within three days. He also advised the doctor to refrain from reporting to duty during the investigation.
Police in Ranaghat have begun an inquiry but noted that the allegations are “non-cognizable.” An officer said, “The claims appear to be internal administrative issues, but we are looking into the matter.”
The doctor expressed frustration, saying, “This is blatant workplace harassment. It seems that despite the uproar over the RG Kar case, to some people things remain unchanged.”