The brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata, India, has ignited global outrage, throwing a harsh spotlight on the pervasive issue of violence against women within the medical profession. This horrific incident, far from being isolated, underscores a deeply ingrained culture of misogyny and systemic failures that silence and endanger female healthcare professionals, not just in India, but globally.
Dr. [Victim’s Name – if available, otherwise keep it as “the victim” as in the original] had just completed an exhausting 36-hour shift at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. With no designated call room available for resident physicians, she sought a moment of rest in a seminar room. It was there, on August 9th, that her semi-nude body was discovered. The gruesome details that emerged – bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and genitals – painted a picture of extreme violence. The subsequent autopsy confirmed the horrific truth: she had been violently raped and strangled. This India Doctor Killed case sent shockwaves through the medical community and beyond.
Adding another layer of horror to this tragedy was the alleged attempt to cover up the crime. Sandip Ghosh, the principal of the medical college and an orthopedic surgeon, reportedly attempted to dismiss the india doctor killed case as a suicide. The victim’s family has voiced serious concerns about the hospital’s deliberate delay in the investigation and disturbing allegations surfaced that Kolkata police attempted to bribe the family to prevent them from filing a formal report. These allegations of obstruction and corruption have further fueled public anger and distrust in the system meant to protect its citizens.
On-the-Ground Perspectives on the Doctor’s Murder
To gain a deeper understanding of this appalling case and the broader context of physician culture in India, insights were sought from Dr. Vinay Aggarwal, MBBS, a prominent figure in Indian medicine as the former president of the Indian Medical Association and current chairman of its Action Committee.
Dr. Aggarwal strongly condemned the Kolkata police for their alleged complicity in the cover-up. He pointed to their swift and unexplained move to take the victim’s body for cremation and their suspected tampering with evidence at the crime scene in the medical college. “They ransacked the crime scene… I suspect they were removing evidence,” he stated. While Sanjay Roy, a civic Kolkata police volunteer, has been arrested, Dr. Aggarwal and many within the medical community believe that not all perpetrators have been apprehended. There are strong suspicions that individuals from influential families, potentially students, were involved in this heinous rape and murder. The india doctor killed tragedy has exposed a potential nexus of power, privilege, and impunity within Indian society.
The sheer brutality of the crime, compounded by the alleged corruption at the highest levels of hospital administration and law enforcement, has sparked widespread outrage across India. Principal Ghosh resigned from his position, though he maintained his innocence and claimed defamation. In a shocking turn of events that further inflamed public anger, he was hired as the principal of another medical college just hours after his resignation. This blatant disregard for justice – the fact that a male physician implicated in leadership failures following such a horrific crime could not only escape accountability but even advance his career – ignited further protests and deepened the sense of injustice surrounding the india doctor killed case.
“There are still many questions. The medical profession in Bengal is enraged,” Dr. Aggarwal emphasized, highlighting the deep-seated anger and frustration within the medical community.
Painting depicting Draupadi from the Mahabharata, symbolizing feminine resilience and passion.
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma circa 1888-1890 of Draupadi of the ancient Indian epic, The Mahabharata.
“Not Shocked, Just Horrified”: A Shared Sentiment Among Female Doctors
While the india doctor killed incident evoked strong emotional responses, for many female Indian-American physicians, the prevailing feeling was a grim sense of familiarity. Despite living and working in the United States, they deeply feel the pain and realities of their community in India.
“I felt the usual feelings: anger and resignation,” shared Dr. Mohini Dasari, a general surgeon. “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.”
Dr. Aditi Misra, an internal medicine resident, echoed this sentiment, “Obviously I was horrified, but not shocked. I thought, ‘Oh, this again?'” This reaction speaks volumes about the normalized nature of violence and the pervasive fear that women in medicine, particularly in India, live with.
Echoes of the Past: The Aruna Shanbaug Case
The india doctor killed case tragically mirrors another horrific instance of sexual violence within the Indian medical system: the 1973 rape of Aruna Shanbaug. This young nurse in Mumbai was brutally sodomized and strangled in a hospital, leaving her in a vegetative state for over four decades until her death. Her attacker was charged with robbery and attempted murder, but, astonishingly, never faced charges for the rape itself. These cases are not isolated anomalies; they are symptomatic of a deeper societal malaise.
For Indian women in medicine, stories of sexual violence are tragically commonplace. A critical barrier to addressing this issue is the pervasive culture of silence and shame that prevents open discussion within the Indian community.
Kanksha Buch, a recent college graduate aspiring to medical school, explained, “It’s incredibly taboo – my dad and male relatives recognize it, but they’re uncomfortable. They just don’t have the words to talk about it, so the solution is, ‘Overprotect your daughters.’ A major reason we don’t talk about it is shame – if you’ve been mistreated sexually, you’re labeled damaged goods. We need to be able to have conversations about it as a first step.” This culture of silence and victim-blaming further isolates women and allows perpetrators to operate with impunity.
A Culture of Expectation: Violence Against Women in India
The abuse of women is a harsh reality woven into the fabric of Indian society. As the author poignantly states, “Most women in our community, including those in medicine such as myself, have a story of male violence.” This normalization of violence creates an environment where such acts are not only tolerated but, in some insidious ways, expected.
Dr. Neha Narayan, an internal medicine resident, articulates this chilling reality: “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 highlights the profound lack of empathy and support for victims, and the deeply ingrained patriarchal attitudes that prioritize the well-being and reputation of men over the safety and dignity of women.
Institutional Betrayal: A Global Issue in Medicine
It is crucial to recognize that sexual violence in medicine is not solely an “Indian problem.” “Institutional betrayal,” the systemic failure of institutions to protect those dependent on them, is a pervasive issue within the medical field globally, including in the United States.
An Indian female physician practicing in the U.S., who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisal, recounted her experience reporting sexual harassment by a male classmate during medical school. The response she received was deeply disheartening: “[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 exemplifies the chilling effect of institutional betrayal, where victims are silenced and marginalized for speaking out, while institutions prioritize their own reputation and risk management over the safety and well-being of individuals.
The Shame of Speaking Up and the Culture of Silence
The author’s personal experience further illustrates the systemic resistance to addressing sexual misconduct in medicine. After reporting a male peer for similar behavior, her institution’s response was not to address the perpetrator’s actions but to express concern about potential repercussions for him if his misconduct were to be discussed: “If you are communicating about his prior activities and it impedes his ability to continue his education or to [be employed], that could be problematic.” This perverse logic prioritizes the career prospects of the perpetrator over the harm inflicted upon the victim and the safety of the broader community.
This resistance to open discussion is not limited to institutions; it extends to individuals within the medical profession itself. Even after sharing her experience, while many physicians offered support, some reacted with surprising anger, accusing her of “painting all men with the same brush.” This defensiveness and the silencing of open dialogue are precisely what allow sexual misconduct to flourish unchecked in medicine.
Dr. Dasari’s experience reporting a surgeon’s inappropriate behavior and misogynistic attitude during residency further highlights the professional retaliation women often face for speaking out. Despite a witness corroborating her account, the response from leadership was dismissive, urging them to “assume good intent” and claiming “He probably didn’t mean it.” The process, despite assurances of confidentiality, was not, and the surgeon retaliated by spreading false and damaging rumors about her professionalism and trustworthiness. When she publicly shared her experience, a male surgeon responded with a threatening message, “Calm down, or face the consequences,” reinforcing the culture of intimidation and silencing that pervades the medical field.
Sexual violence is not an isolated phenomenon; it is a symptom of deeply entrenched misogynistic attitudes and systemic failures. The medical culture’s tendency to avoid confronting misogyny, dismissing it as “just words” or “freedom of expression,” labeling reporters as “oversensitive,” and punishing women for coming forward, perpetuates this violence.
Women in medicine who speak out against misogyny and violence are not “woke,” “hypersensitive,” or “vindictive misandrists.” They are courageous individuals demanding accountability and safety within their profession. Violence against women is unacceptable, and prioritizing men’s comfort over honest conversations about it is deeply disrespectful and harmful. The india doctor killed case, and countless others, demonstrate how the failure to acknowledge and address sexual violence allows it to become a terrifying reality that women are forced to navigate and endure. Women should not be expected to tolerate violence, nor should they be vilified for resisting it in their workplaces.
The tragic india doctor killed case is a stark reminder of the collective forces – cultural patriarchy and shame in India, indignant opposition in America, and institutional betrayal in both countries – that silence Indian women in medicine and perpetuate sexual violence within the healthcare system. Meaningful change requires honest and uncomfortable conversations, systemic reforms, and a fundamental shift in cultural attitudes. We cannot hope to confront this issue sincerely if we are not willing to be honest about its pervasive and destructive nature.
This op-ed is the first in a series on violence against Indian women in healthcare. Part two is available here.
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. Buch created the cover art at the beginning of this article; her art was inspired by Indian classical dance embodying the graceful, feminine, yet resilient and passionate spirit of women.
Chloe Nazra Lee, MD, MPH, is a resident physician in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York.
