Junior Doctor Hospitalized After Hunger Strike

Junior Doctor Hospitalized After Hunger Strike

Junior Doctor’s Health Deteriorates Amid Protest

Kolkata: Calcutta Medical College and Hospital junior doctor Tanaya Panja, who has been on a fast-unto-death since October 5, had to be hospitalized on Monday evening. The hunger strike is part of a protest by junior doctors against the brutal rape and murder of a fellow junior doctor from R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital. Tanaya fell unconscious in a nearby toilet, prompting her fellow protesters to rush her to the hospital where she is also employed. Her declining health highlighted the severe conditions faced by those participating in the hunger strike.

Blood Pressure Plummets, Leading to Hospitalization

According to a fellow hunger striker, Tanaya’s blood pressure dropped to a dangerously low level of 86/62, leaving her extremely weak and at risk of further health complications. Despite her deteriorating condition, she initially resisted hospitalization, determined to continue the fast. However, her condition worsened, leading to her collapse, and her fellow doctors decided to admit her for emergency medical care.

Other Protesters Also Hospitalized

Tanaya Panja is not the only one whose health has been affected by the ongoing hunger strike. She is the fifth junior doctor to be hospitalized due to a decline in health. Earlier, Aniket Mahato from R.G. Kar, Anustup Mukhopadhyay from Calcutta Medical College & Hospital, Pulastya Acharya from N.R.S. Medical College & Hospital, and Aloke Verma from North Bengal Medical College & Hospital in Siliguri were also admitted to hospitals after their conditions worsened. Each of these doctors had joined the fast-unto-death protest, demonstrating solidarity for justice in the wake of the tragic incident at R.G. Kar Medical College.

Medical Condition Worsens for Hunger Striker

Following her collapse, Tanaya Panja was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Calcutta Medical College. A fellow junior doctor expressed concern over the ongoing struggle, stating, “Just how much more of this can we take? We will update everyone on her condition as it progresses.” In addition to low blood pressure, Tanaya also showed other concerning medical conditions, including the presence of ketone bodies in her urine, indicating severe physical stress due to the prolonged lack of nutrition.

Conditions of Other Fasting Doctors Worsen

The health of other fasting junior doctors, including Snigdha Hazra, Sayantani Ghosh Hazra, and Arnab Mukhopadhyay, has also started deteriorating as the protest enters its second week. The hunger strike began on October 5 at Esplanade and has since been a focal point for the medical community’s call for justice. The protest has drawn widespread attention, with many questioning the cost of such extreme measures on the health and well-being of the young doctors.

Indian Medical Association Calls for End to Hunger Strike

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has intervened in the ongoing protest. The national president of the IMA, R.V. Asokan, visited the protest site and pledged the support of the medical body to the junior doctors. He emphasized that the agitation was not for personal gains but for a broader societal cause, highlighting the solidarity among medical professionals across the country.

IMA Urges Protesters to Prioritize Health

While showing support, R.V. Asokan also urged the fasting doctors to reconsider their extreme measures. “Life comes first. Do not adopt the extreme step,” he appealed, hoping to convince the doctors to end the hunger strike for the sake of their own health. The appeal reflects the concerns of many in the medical community who support the cause but worry about the potential irreversible damage to the health of the young doctors.

Supreme Court Hearing Scheduled

Amid the ongoing protest and deteriorating health of the fasting doctors, a critical hearing on the rape and murder case is set to take place at the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The outcome of this hearing could potentially impact the course of the protests and the demands of the aggrieved doctors. The junior doctors remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice for their deceased colleague, despite the severe toll the hunger strike has taken on their physical health.