Mumbai: JJ Hospital Doctors Strike After Suicide Attempt By Junior Resident; MSRDA Demands Action Against Departmental Harassment
Mumbai: The Resident doctors at Mumbai’s JJ Hospital are on strike on Saturday following a suicide attempt by a junior woman doctor from the Department of Paediatrics on July 16. The incident has sparked outrage across the medical community and also a strong response from the Maharashtra Senior Resident Doctors’ Association (MSRDA), which condemned the alleged toxic environment and harassment within the department.
The junior resident doctor (JR-3) reportedly attempted suicide due to sustained mental harassment, departmental toxicity, and a hostile work environment. According to MSRDA, this is not an isolated event but a manifestation of the sustained mental harassment, abuse of power, and hostile working environment that has long plagued the department.
In a public statement, MSRDA expressed full solidarity with the protesting doctors under the leadership of JJH MARD and emphasised the urgency of addressing the situation. The association warned that if corrective actions are not taken promptly, the system itself becomes complicit in risking the lives of young medical professionals.
MSRDA reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on hierarchical bullying and departmental toxicity, reminding authorities that medical colleges should be spaces for learning and healing, not fear and subjugation.
The association outlined several key demands:
Immediate suspension of the current Head of the Paediatrics Department pending inquiry.
Independent, time-bound investigation into the ongoing harassment and work culture of the department.
Psychological support, safety, and grievance redressal mechanisms for resident doctors in all departments.
Assurance from the government that such toxic environments will not be tolerated anywhere in the state's medical education system.
Concluding their statement, MSRDA emphasised their support for the ongoing protest and warned of a possible statewide escalation if urgent action is not taken. “Let us not wait for another young life to be lost before we act,” the association urged.
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