A doctor who was charged for allegedly causing a pregnant woman's death in a private hospital in Rajasthan's Dausa died by suicide on Tuesday, 29 March, the police said.
A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against the doctor, named Archana Sharma, under IPC Section 302 (murder) at the Lalsot police station after the pregnant woman's family protested outside the Anand Hospital, alleging negligence on the part of Sharma, and demanding strict action to be taken against her.
The doctor also left behind a suicide letter, in which she wrote that she had not made any mistake and that the patient had died due to a known complication, post partum hemorrhage (PPH), during delivery.
She also urged people to stop "harassing innocent doctors", and said that perhaps her death would prove her innocence.
Sharma also said in the letter that she loved her husband and children, and urged people to not harass them after her death.
Lal Chand Kayal, Additional SP (Dausa), said, "The doctor was booked for the death of the pregnant woman due to negligence in treatment," news agency PTI reported.
He also added that the matter was currently under investigation.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena said on Wednesday that the police should not have booked the doctor under Section 302 as the Supreme Court had already ruled that doctors cannot be charged under the said section, news agency ANI reported.
'She Was Disturbed by the News of the FIR Against Her': Dr Archana's Husband
Meanwhile, Dr Archana's husband spoke with The Quint and informed that she was disturbed by the news of the FIR against her.
"The patient died on Monday, 28 March, at 1pm. Later, the patient's family took the body away at 3 pm, allegedly at the behest of a man who is associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) there. The body was brought back, and there was gherao outside the hospital, which went on till 1 am."
The husband further said that on Tuesday, 29 March, Dr Archana read the morning newspaper at 7.30 am and found out that the police had filed an FIR against her under section 302 (murder). "This disturbed her, and four hours later, she died by suicide," he said.
Resident Doctors' Association Condemns Incident
The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India (FORDA) wrote a letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemning the "tragic" incident.
"This is a major loss for the state as well as for the nation," the letter read, adding, "It is pertinent to mention that Post-Partum Haemorrhage (PPH) is a known complication following delivery in pregnant women."
The letter also mentioned that as per guidelines by the Supreme Court, a doctor cannot be accused of medical negligence in any such incident without proper investigation by an expert committee. It also added that strict compliance of the Court's guidelines should be ensured so that "such a tragic incident is never repeated in the future".
The association also urged the state government to provide compensation to Sharma's family.
"Strongly condemning this incident, we demand proper investigation of the incident, immediate withdrawal of the FIR and compensation by the state government to the family of (Late) Dr Archana," the letter added.
Angry Doctors Take Out Protest March in Japiur
Meanwhile, angry doctors took out a protest march on Wednesday. The doctors first met and strategised at the JMA campus of Sawai Mansingh Hospital, Jaipur, and then reached the Statue Circle on foot via Tonk Road.
The protesting doctors sat on the road with their demands and blocked the way. When the police tried to remove them, a skirmish broke out between the police and the doctors. Doctors also boycotted work in a nearby private hospital and did not attend to any patients in the OPD.
Services in dispensaries were also affected for two hours due to the boycott. Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Society, JARD, Federation of Resident Doctors India, JMA, IMA and other associated doctors participated in the rally.
The secretary of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Society, Dr Vijay Kapoor, said that the doctors would not keep silent until the responsible police officials are sacked, and those who abet Dr Archana's suicide are caught.
The doctors have also prepared a 15-point demand letter, which includes the demand for their protection, the arrest of the culprits, and the dismissal of police officials who filed a murder case against Dr Archana.
On Wednesday evening, doctors were scheduled to pay tribute to Dr Archana by taking a candle march.
Meanwhile, resident doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, held a protest wearing black ribbons against the "harassment" of the doctor in Rajasthan.
The FORDA has also called for a candle-light protest on 31 March at Jantar Mantar to condemn the tragic incident.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)
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