KEM Hospital orders inquiry against MBBS student Sejal Pawar over remarks made on Pranit More’s show

Pranit More, Sejal Pawar (Pictures via X)

Mumbai's KEM Hospital has launched an internal inquiry against MBBS student Sejal Pawar after a viral clip from comedian Pranit More's show sparked outrage online. The controversy erupted after Pawar made remarks about male cadavers during an audience interaction segment, with many viewers and medical professionals calling the comments insensitive and disrespectful toward body donors.

KEM Hospital launches internal inquiry

According to reports, the hospital administration acted after receiving complaints regarding the video, which circulated widely on social media over the past few days. While only a short clip from the hour-long show went viral, the institution has reviewed the matter and formed a committee to examine the context and content of the remarks.

KEM Hospital's Dean stated that the institution takes such concerns seriously and has appointed a two-member inquiry panel to investigate the incident. The committee reviewed the available footage and interacted with Pawar before submitting a preliminary report. The hospital said the comments appeared to be inconsistent with the values, dignity, empathy and professionalism expected from a medical student.

Sources quoted in media reports said that senior doctors at the hospital were particularly upset because cadavers are donated voluntarily for medical education and are traditionally regarded with immense respect by students and faculty. Several members of the medical fraternity argued that joking about body donors on a public platform could undermine trust in the donation process and damage the image of the profession.

Sejal Pawar issues public apology

Amid the backlash, Pawar issued a public apology on social media. In her statement, she acknowledged that her remarks had hurt sentiments and admitted that the clip, when viewed later, could understandably upset people. She stressed that there was no intention to disrespect anyone but accepted that the impact of her words mattered more than her intent.

The hospital has confirmed that Pawar submitted a written apology as well. Following the inquiry, she is expected to undergo counselling in the presence of her parents, after which the institution will decide on any disciplinary action. Hospital authorities have indicated that while they do not intend to be excessively punitive, they want to send a clear message about maintaining professional standards and ethical conduct.

The controversy has triggered wider conversations about professional responsibility, social media conduct and the ethical boundaries of humour within the medical community.