Kakatiya Medical College student critical after suicide attempt

Hyderabad: A day after a PG student of Kakatiya Medical College attempted suicide due to alleged harassment by her senior, the director of medical education, Ramesh Reddy, visited NIMS, Hyderabad, where she is being kept on ventilator support.

The post-graduate medical first-year student, Dr. Preethi, of Kakatiya Medical College (KMC) in Warangal injected herself with a heavy dose of suspected anaesthesia in the MGM Hospital where she is doing her night duty (internship).

On 22 February, the medico collapsed after complaining of chest pain. She was last seen at the emergency OP where she was on duty. She left the room complaining of headache. She was later found unconscious. The hospital staff immediately rushed her to the ICU, and administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). She was later sent to NIMS, Hyderabad.

On Thursday at 5 pm, a medical bulletin was released by medical superintendent NIMS, Hyderabad on the condition of Preethi. Dr. Preethi was shifted to NIMS in status of multiorgan failure with ventilatory and ionotropic support. The doctors said she continues to be critical, and efforts are being made to maintain her vital functions.

There are allegations that she was harassed in the name of ragging by a senior medico Dr. Saif.

According to her father, Narender, an SI in the Railway Police Force (RPF), he met his daughter a few days back when she cried over harassment by a senior who asked her to work extra hours in the MGM Hospital. Narender lives in the Uppal area of Hyderabad with his wife and son. During the conversation with her father, Preethi also asked her parents to shift to Warangal.

“Following my daughter’s issue, I spoke to the Mattewada police over the phone and asked them to look into the matter. A senior medico has been ragging her and it is the reason for her suicide,” stated Narender.

After the victim's father complaint to the local police, the Mattewada police immediately asked KMC principal Dr Divvela Mohan Das to take appropriate action against Dr. Saif. Three days back, both the students were counselled by Principal and HOD of anaesthesia department Dr K Nagarjuna Reddy.

Speaking to News Meter, Warangal Commissioner of Police A V Ranganath said, "The second-year PG student Dr. Saif, has been taken into custody. He was the victim's senior, and was ragging her. The police are checking the victim’s WhatsApp chats, and browsing history. During the investigation, it was learnt that a day before she attempted suicide, Preethi searched in google about what injections can lead to death".

Speaking to the media, the director of medical education, Ramesh Reddy, said, “Three days back, both the medicos were counselled. There is no such ragging at the PG level. Generally, senior PG interact with the juniors. KMC has formed a four-member committee to conduct an inquiry. We will take action after receiving the report of the committee.”

A case has been registered in the Mattewada police station (Warangal commissionerate), under the the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. After investigation, it is found that Dr Saif has been harrassing Preethi in WhatsApp messages. He has been insulting her.

He has been sent for 14 days remand to Khammam Jail.