Mumbai News: DMER Completes Probe Into JJ Hospital Resident's Suicide Attempt; Protests Over HOD Continue

Mumbai: The enquiry by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) into the attempted suicide of a third-year resident doctor in the Paediatrics Department of Mumbai’s JJ Hospital was conducted on Monday. Resident doctors from the department have demanded that the enquiry report be made available by Tuesday. Meanwhile, doctors continued their protest, reiterating their demand for the immediate transfer of the Head of the Paediatrics Department.

Around 42 resident doctors from JJ Hospital’s Paediatrics Department have been protesting on the hospital campus since Saturday. They have stated they will continue their protest on Tuesday as well. The doctors allege that prolonged harassment by the HOD drove the third-year resident to attempt suicide. 

“DMER completed its enquiry on Monday, and we have demanded that the report be shared by Tuesday,” said one of the protesting doctors.

According to a statement issued by the protesters, on July 16, 2025, the third-year paediatrics resident attempted to end her life by consuming Lorazepam tablets. Her colleagues found her in time and rushed her to the casualty ward. She is currently stable and under observation in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU).

The residents claim the young doctor faced “severe harassment and discrimination” at the hands of the HOD, who was also her postgraduate guide and local guardian.

Dr Mahesh Tidke, President of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) at Grant Government Medical College and JJ Group of Hospitals, said they are waiting for the outcome of the DMER probe. “However, we have decided to continue our protest until the HOD is transferred,” he added.

Following complaints from students after the incident, Dr Ajay Bhandarwar, Dean of JJ Hospital and Medical College, has temporarily appointed Dr Chhaya Valvi as the new Head of the Paediatrics Department. Dr Valvi, a professor in the same department, will take over from the outgoing HOD.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Senior Resident Doctors’ Association (MSRDA) has extended its support to the protesting doctors and demanded the immediate suspension of the current HOD.