Two doctors working in the hospital of Chennai were found dead in a span of two days after their completion of long hours of shifts. On Sunday, December 10, Dr Maruthupandian, who was a superspeciality postgraduate from Madras Medical College (MMC) was found dead at his place of residence. The following day after on Monday, December 11, Dr Solaisamy who was from ESI Hospital in Ayanavaram, Chennai, died after returning from work.
Both the doctors reportedly had overworked and had died after returning from 24-hour-long work shifts. The news of both the doctors dying within a span of 48 hours was very shocking and at the same time disturbing too.
Dr Shanthi AR, Secretary, Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE) stated that both of the doctors had overworked and suffered heart attacks because of extreme stress. “This is a result of the system overworking doctors because of understaffed hospitals. We have come to know that Dr Maruthupandian was made to do data operation work in the hospital because Madras Medical College is understaffed,” she said.
Dr Maharajan, who is a pediatrician from Chennai, wrote over his X handle (formerly known as Twitter) said Dr Maruthupandian was 30-year-old and his wife was expecting a child. “Lot of young doctors die across the country every day due to stress and work toxicity. But no one is trying to make the lives of postgraduates happier,” he said. Although later, he removed the post. Dr Ravindranath GR from DASE also made a request to the state government for taking some possible actions to prevent exploitation of doctors and medical students.
