A 28-year-old doctor was found dead in a hotel room in Phaltan town late on Thursday night. In a suicide note written on her palm, the physician, posted in Satara district in western Maharashtra, accused a police official of rape and mental harassment, the police said.
A young government hospital doctor on Thursday committed suicide in Satara district of Maharashtra. Representational Pic/File
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra on Friday strongly condemned the Satara doctor's suicide and wrote a letter to CM Devendra Fadnavis demanding justice and reforms in the health sector.
A young government hospital doctor on Thursday committed suicide in Satara district of Maharashtra.
The 28-year-old doctor was found dead in a hotel room in Phaltan town late on Thursday night. In a suicide note written on her palm, the physician, posted in Satara district in western Maharashtra, accused police official of rape and mental harassment, the police said.
In a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on October 24, the IMA expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the incident, calling it “a reflection of the psychological, administrative, and moral strain” faced by doctors across Maharashtra, particularly those in rural and peripheral hospitals.
The IMA Maharashtra has called for urgent justice, accountability, and reforms to protect doctors working in challenging conditions.
The letter alleged that the deceased doctor was posted at the Sub-District Hospital in Phaltan area of Satara and she was reportedly subjected to sustained mental and physical harassment, despite reaching out to senior officials and police for help.
According to the association, she had even filed an RTI application to inquire about the inaction on her complaints.
The IMA, further in the letter, stated that her death highlights a serious failure of administrative response and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
It urged the government to take firm, transparent, and time-bound action to restore confidence among the medical community.
The association has put forward several key demands, including:
1. Immediate suspension and arrest of the police and administrative personnel named in the complaint, followed by a judicially monitored inquiry.
2. Accountability of health officials who ignored her complaints.
3. Establishment of a Statewide Mental Health and Grievance Redressal Cell for doctors.
4. Mandatory mental health support and counselling in government hospitals.
5. Clear SOPs for departmental inquiries to prevent bias or intimidation.
6. Whistleblower protection for doctors reporting harassment or abuse.
7. Appointment of Doctor Welfare Nodal Officers at district and state levels.
8. Legal reforms to strengthen the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, to include administrative and psychological harassment as punishable offences.
“This tragedy must serve as a turning point,” the IMA said, adding that doctors serving in difficult environments deserve empathy, mental health support, and procedural fairness.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Health Minister, Directorate of Health Services, Deputy Director of Health Services (Pune), Superintendent of Police (Satara), the Maharashtra Director General of Police, and the Women’s Rights Commission.
Need help, here are suicide prevention helplines-
Samaritans Mumbai (Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm): 84229-84527
Connecting NGO (From 10 am to 8 pm): 9922004305/9922001122
Snehi (From 10 am to 10 pm): 9376804102
1 Life: 7893078930
Aasra: 9820466726
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