Rajasthan Gynaecologist Booked After Death Of Pregnant Woman Ends Life. Doctors Protest, Demand Investigation

Stressed over the FIR registered for allegedly causing death of a pregnant woman, the doctor hanged herself to death at her residence above the hospital, said Additional SP (Dausa) Lal Chand Kayal

Doctors pockets with medical instruments - stock photo (Getty Image)

New Delhi: The death of a doctor in Dausa town in Rajasthan came as a shock to the medical fraternity as the woman doctor, who was booked for allegedly causing the death of a pregnant woman at a private facility died by suicide Tuesday.

Rajasthan health minister Parsadi Lal Meena responded to the incident on Wednesday in Jaipur saying, "Women doctor committed suicide because of police's negligence. They shouldn't have booked her under Sec 302 (murder charges) when SC has already ruled that under the said section case can't be filed against doctors."

Women doctor committed suicide because of police's negligence. They shouldn't have booked her under Sec 302 (murder charges) when SC has already ruled that under the said section case can't be filed against doctors: Rajasthan Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena in Jaipur pic.twitter.com/NiyJdWlrZw

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) March 30, 2022

It started when a pregnant woman on Tuesday died at the hospital run by Dr Archana Sharma and her husband, said the police, reported news agency PTI. After the incident, family members of the pregnant woman held a demonstration outside the hospital and demanded immediate action against the erring doctor.

Later an FIR was registered against the doctor at the Lalsot Police Station. Stressed over the FIR and incident, Archana hanged herself to death, said police. The doctor was booked for the death of the pregnant woman due to negligence in treatment. “Today afternoon, the doctor hanged herself to death at her residence above the hospital,” said Additional SP (Dausa) Lal Chand Kayal.

The matter is being investigated further, he added.

The incident has drawn huge attention with resident doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi holding a symbolic protest against the incident.

A tweet from AIIMs junior resident doctor reads, “We will be going for symbolic protest against the barbaric harassment of Dr. Archana which led to her suicide, by wearing Black Ribbon today, on the 30th of March, 2022! We cannot and shall not let harassment of doctors be normalized!"

Breaking: Resident doctors at @aiims_newdelhi will be going for symbolic protest against the barbaric harassment of Dr. Archana which led to her suicide, by wearing Black Ribbon today, on the 30th of March, 2022!

We cannot and shall not let harassment of doctors be normalized!

— Dr. Datta (AIIMS Delhi) 🇮🇳 (@DrDatta_AIIMS) March 29, 2022

Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has also written to Rajasthan CM demanding proper investigation, immediate withdrawal of FIR and compensation to the family in the suicide case of Dr Archana in Dausa, according to news agency ANI.

In a separate tweet another doctor shared the suicide note of the young gynaecologist demanding action against harassment of doctors.

“A young gynae and a mother of two small kids, Dr Archna Sharma from Dausa, Rajasthan, committed suicide under HARASSMENT as a case of murder was ILLEGALLY filed against her under IPC 302 when a patient died during childbirth from a known complication. Stop harassing doctors,” reads the tweet.

“मेरा मरना शायद मेरी बेगुनाही साबित कर दे” ~ डॉ. अर्चना शर्मा. दिल को दहला देने वाला suicide note.

क्या हर डॉक्टर को अपनी बेगुनाही साबित करने के लिए मरना पड़ेगा? क्या समाज, मीडिया, पुलिस और प्रशासन एक घिघौने षड्यंत्र के तहत चिकित्सकों को ऐसे ही प्रताड़ित करते रहेंगे? https://t.co/hVvNpqYN9J

— Sudipto (@SudiptoDoc) March 30, 2022

Death due to alleged medical negligence is covered under section 304A of IPC. And that too if high order of medical negligence is established. There is a Supreme Court ruling in this matter.

The police CANNOT whimsically book a doctor for medical negligence under IPC 302. pic.twitter.com/9Hs7Ripk7p

— Sudipto (@SudiptoDoc) March 30, 2022

The suicide letter has gone viral and been shared to draw attention to the issue.

In a series of tweet the doctor, who shared his anger over the incident said, “Death due to alleged medical negligence is covered under section 304A of IPC. And that too if high order of medical negligence is established. There is a Supreme Court ruling in this matter. The police CANNOT whimsically book a doctor for medical negligence under IPC 302.”