The horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old Indian doctor has ignited global outrage and brought to light the pervasive issues of violence against women within the medical profession in India and beyond. This is not an isolated incident, but a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by female healthcare professionals and the systemic failures that perpetuate such tragedies.
The young doctor from Kolkata, whose name has become a symbol of this struggle, had just completed an arduous 36-hour shift at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Seeking a moment of rest, she retreated to a seminar room, as no designated call room was available for resident physicians at the hospital – a common deficiency in many healthcare facilities. It was in this supposedly safe space that she was brutally attacked.
On August 9th, her semi-nude body was discovered in the seminar room, a gruesome scene marked by bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and genitals. The subsequent autopsy confirmed the horrifying truth: she had been violently raped and strangled. The brutality of the crime sent shockwaves through the medical community and the wider public, drawing comparisons to the infamous “Nirbhaya” case and sparking protests across India.
Adding another layer of horror to this tragedy were the alleged attempts to cover up the crime. Sandip Ghosh, the principal of the medical college and an orthopedic surgeon, reportedly attempted to dismiss the incident as a suicide. This alleged downplaying of the violence by a figure of authority, entrusted with the safety of his staff, further fueled public anger and distrust. The victim’s family voiced serious concerns about the hospital’s handling of the investigation, alleging delays and even claiming that the Kolkata police attempted to bribe them to prevent the filing of an official report. These allegations point towards a deeply troubling level of institutional failure and potential corruption within both the hospital administration and law enforcement.
Eyewitness Account and the Physician’s Perspective
To gain a deeper understanding of this appalling case and the broader context of physician culture in India, an interview was conducted with Dr. Vinay Aggarwal, a former president of the Indian Medical Association and the current chairman of its Action Committee. Dr. Aggarwal’s insights shed light on the ground realities and the systemic issues at play.
Dr. Aggarwal strongly condemned the Kolkata police for their apparent complicity in the alleged cover-up. He highlighted their hasty and questionable decision to take the victim’s body for cremation, raising serious concerns about evidence tampering. “They ransacked the crime scene at the medical college,” Dr. Aggarwal stated, suggesting a deliberate attempt to obstruct justice. He also pointed to Principal Ghosh’s claim of a scheduled renovation as suspicious, suggesting it was a pretext to remove crucial evidence. While one arrest has been made – Sanjay Roy, a civic Kolkata police volunteer – Dr. Aggarwal and the medical community believe that not all perpetrators have been apprehended. Disturbingly, there are widespread suspicions within the community that students from influential families were also involved in this heinous crime, highlighting the potential abuse of power and privilege.
The combination of the violent crime itself and the alleged corruption within hospital leadership and law enforcement ignited widespread outrage across India. Principal Ghosh resigned from his position, but not before proclaiming his innocence and bizarrely claiming defamation. In a move that further inflamed public anger, he was appointed as principal of another medical college just hours after his resignation, demonstrating a shocking lack of accountability and a system seemingly designed to protect perpetrators rather than victims. This blatant injustice – the advancement of a male physician’s career despite serious allegations of misconduct and demonstrably poor leadership in the wake of such a tragedy – served to intensify protests and deepen the sense of betrayal within the medical community.
“There are still many questions. The medical profession in Bengal is enraged,” Dr. Aggarwal emphasized, underscoring the deep-seated anger and unresolved issues surrounding the case.
Painting of Draupadi symbolizing resilience of women
A Shared Pain and a History of Violence
While the author and her Indian-American female colleagues in medicine expressed profound sorrow and anger regarding this murder, they also admitted to a chilling lack of surprise. Despite living in the United States, they feel a deep connection to their community in India and the pain it endures.
Dr. Mohini Dasari, a general surgeon, articulated this sentiment, stating, “I felt the usual feelings: anger and resignation… Despite all the advocacy in the world, this keeps happening. There is a piece of me that feels resigned to the idea that some of this will never change.” This sense of resignation, born from repeated exposure to such violence, is a heavy burden carried by many women in the Indian medical community.
Dr. Aditi Misra, an internal medicine resident, echoed this sentiment, “Obviously I was horrified, but not shocked. I thought, ‘Oh, this again?'” This weary recognition highlights the deeply ingrained nature of the problem and the frequency with which Indian women in medicine face such threats.
The murder of the Kolkata doctor tragically echoes the case of Aruna Shanbaug, a young nurse who was brutally raped in a Mumbai hospital in 1973. Shanbaug remained in a vegetative state for over four decades until her death. Her attacker was charged with robbery and attempted murder but was never prosecuted for rape, highlighting the systemic failures in the justice system to protect women even in the most egregious cases of sexual violence.
These stories are not isolated anomalies but rather represent a disturbing pattern for Indian women in medicine. Compounding the issue is the cultural reluctance to openly discuss sexual violence within the Indian community. Kanksha Buch, a recent college graduate aspiring to medical school, explained, “It’s incredibly taboo… They just don’t have the words to talk about it, so the solution is, ‘Overprotect your daughters.'” This culture of silence is further reinforced by shame, where victims of sexual violence are often stigmatized as “damaged goods,” hindering open dialogue and preventing collective action.
The Universality of Institutional Betrayal
As Neha Narayan, an internal medicine resident, poignantly stated, “Sexual violence is an expectation. It’s not reprimanded, women are expected to take it. The conversations focus on the man’s future, and we don’t even use the word ‘rape’… No one asks if the women are okay. I wish it were different.” This pervasive culture of acceptance and victim-blaming allows sexual violence to flourish unchecked.
However, the issue of sexual violence in medicine is not confined to India. Institutional betrayal, where institutions fail to protect those who report abuse, is a widespread problem in the U.S. as well. An anonymous Indian female physician practicing in the U.S. recounted her experience of reporting sexual harassment by a male classmate during medical school. Instead of support, she was met with hostility: “[The medical school administration] treated me like I was the problem, so I just stopped saying anything… I didn’t want issues for residency, so I shut up.” This fear of retaliation and professional repercussions silences victims and allows perpetrators to continue their harmful behavior with impunity.
The author’s own experience further illustrates this point. After reporting similar misconduct by a male peer, her institution’s primary concern was not the misconduct itself but the potential impact on the perpetrator’s career. This skewed prioritization, protecting the perpetrator’s reputation over the victim’s well-being and safety, is a stark example of institutional betrayal.
Breaking the Silence: Confronting Misogyny and Retaliation
Even when women do speak out, they often face backlash and disbelief. While many physicians offered support after the author shared her experience, some reacted with anger, accusing her of “painting all men with the same brush.” This resistance to open discussion and the defensiveness exhibited by some individuals within the medical community serve to perpetuate the culture of silence and allow sexual misconduct to thrive.
Dr. Dasari’s experience of reporting a surgeon’s inappropriate behavior and misogynistic attitude during residency exemplifies the professional retaliation women often face. Despite a witness corroborating her account, the chair dismissed the behavior, urging them to “assume good intent.” The promised confidentiality was breached, and the surgeon retaliated by spreading false rumors about Dr. Dasari’s professional competence. The online harassment Dr. Dasari faced after sharing her story publicly, including a threatening message from a male surgeon, underscores the pervasive culture of misogyny and the severe consequences women face for speaking out.
Sexual violence is not an isolated phenomenon; it is rooted in these deeply ingrained misogynistic attitudes. Yet, medical culture often avoids confronting misogyny directly, dismissing it as trivial or misinterpreting calls for accountability as “oversensitivity” or “vindictiveness.” Women in medicine who speak out are not “woke,” “hypersensitive,” or “vindictive misandrists”; they are courageous individuals demanding basic respect and safety in their workplaces. Evading honest conversations about sexual violence to protect men’s comfort is not only disrespectful but also perpetuates a dangerous environment where such violence can flourish.
The collective forces of cultural patriarchy and shame in India, combined with indignant opposition in America and institutional betrayal in both countries, create a powerful silencing effect on Indian women in medicine and contribute to the ongoing cycle of sexual violence in healthcare settings.
To truly address this crisis, we must engage in honest and uncomfortable conversations. We must break the silence, challenge misogynistic attitudes, and demand institutional accountability. The tragedy of the Indian doctor’s murder serves as a wake-up call – a demand for change that can no longer be ignored.
This op-ed is the first in a series on violence against Indian women in healthcare.
It is with immense thanks and gratitude to the following women that I write this article: Aditi Misra, MD, PhD, Mohini Dasari, MD, MS, Kanksha Buch, and Neha Narayan, MD.
