Cama hospital, the biggest government-run maternity hospital in the city, has found itself in a soup after a pregnant assistant professor alleged that the medical superintendent harassed her, and that this resulted in her getting pre-term labour pain, forcing her to leave her job. However, the college and Grant Medical College (GMC) have refuted these claims.
Dr Priyanka Pohekar joined Cama and Albless Hospital on October 1, 2015, as an assistant professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, where, she claimed, medical superintendent Dr Rajshree Katke humiliated her frequently, which took a toll on her, leading to extreme mental and emotional stress. This then allegedly caused complications in her pregnancy, and to save her unborn child, she was forced to quit from the job.
On August 31, she filed a complaint with the head of the department and dean of GMC. A copy of the complaint is with mid-day.
The allegations
“I was in so much stress that because of her harassment I went into pre-term labour and had to take a continuous high dose of medication to save my pregnancy. I was forced to leave my job in the middle of my term,” she stated in her complaint letter.
“Dr Rajshree Katke constantly levelled false and baseless allegations against me regarding patients’ care without any evidence to unnecessarily harass and dominate me.”
Pohekar alleged that she was forcibly sent to health camps repeatedly in spite of giving in writing her inability to do such camps frequently. Also, she wasn’t given any place in the hospital to rest.
She also claimed in the letter that there have been other doctors who have left from the hospital due to similar harassment they faced from Katke.
Pohekar has now shifted to Nagpur and is staying with her parents. When mid-day called her up, she said she didn’t want to say anything on it as she has been told to rest and not to take any pressure.
“I have left the hospital now because of the harassment. I don’t want any more complications or stress as I am pregnant. I wanted to inform the authority before I leave so that no one else faces the same problem,” she added.
The other side
The hospital, however, refuted her claims, saying she has levelled these allegations to cover up her lack of efficiency in performing her duty. Dr Katke said, “I have no connection with her. She wasn’t practising under me. All the claims she made are false. In fact, we had received complaints against her from patients, that she wasn’t taking care of them properly. This is just to tarnish the image of the hospital.”
Dean of GMC Dr TP Lahane said, “We have inquired into the matter and taken statements of other doctors, who have refuted Pohekar’s claims.”
BOXES
The list of complaints
Falsely accused of not taking proper care of patients.
Humiliated in front of staffers with the statement “Tuzya dokyat bhusa bharla aahe ka?” (Is your head filled with garbage?)
Juniors or lecturers not allowed to help her despite she being pregnant.
Not allowed to take emergency calls.
Repeatedly sent on health camps despite providing a letter about her incapability to do the same.
Not given any place in the hospital to rest on duty.
Previous fiasco
This is not the first time the hospital’s medical superintendent has been accused of bad behaviour. In December 2014, 300 staffers had called for an indefinite strike to protest against the “mental torture and abuse” allegedly inflicted upon them by Dr Rajshree Katke. “We are treated as her personal servants, and she often abused and insulted us. But last night (December 1), Katke made us look like thieves. The incident crushed our self-respect, and we all were questioned for a ring that was later found in her own laptop bag,” Dhanaji Borule, one of the ward boys present during the incident, had told mid-day after the strike call (http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-over-300-hospital-staffers-go-on-strike-against-abusive-boss/15811167).
Dr Priyanka Pohekar joined Cama and Albless Hospital on October 1, 2015, as an assistant professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, where, she claimed, medical superintendent Dr Rajshree Katke humiliated her frequently, which took a toll on her, leading to extreme mental and emotional stress. This then allegedly caused complications in her pregnancy, and to save her unborn child, she was forced to quit from the job.
On August 31, she filed a complaint with the head of the department and dean of GMC. A copy of the complaint is with mid-day.
The allegations
“I was in so much stress that because of her harassment I went into pre-term labour and had to take a continuous high dose of medication to save my pregnancy. I was forced to leave my job in the middle of my term,” she stated in her complaint letter.
“Dr Rajshree Katke constantly levelled false and baseless allegations against me regarding patients’ care without any evidence to unnecessarily harass and dominate me.”
Pohekar alleged that she was forcibly sent to health camps repeatedly in spite of giving in writing her inability to do such camps frequently. Also, she wasn’t given any place in the hospital to rest.
She also claimed in the letter that there have been other doctors who have left from the hospital due to similar harassment they faced from Katke.
Pohekar has now shifted to Nagpur and is staying with her parents. When mid-day called her up, she said she didn’t want to say anything on it as she has been told to rest and not to take any pressure.
“I have left the hospital now because of the harassment. I don’t want any more complications or stress as I am pregnant. I wanted to inform the authority before I leave so that no one else faces the same problem,” she added.
The other side
The hospital, however, refuted her claims, saying she has levelled these allegations to cover up her lack of efficiency in performing her duty. Dr Katke said, “I have no connection with her. She wasn’t practising under me. All the claims she made are false. In fact, we had received complaints against her from patients, that she wasn’t taking care of them properly. This is just to tarnish the image of the hospital.”
Dean of GMC Dr TP Lahane said, “We have inquired into the matter and taken statements of other doctors, who have refuted Pohekar’s claims.”
BOXES
The list of complaints
Falsely accused of not taking proper care of patients.
Humiliated in front of staffers with the statement “Tuzya dokyat bhusa bharla aahe ka?” (Is your head filled with garbage?)
Juniors or lecturers not allowed to help her despite she being pregnant.
Not allowed to take emergency calls.
Repeatedly sent on health camps despite providing a letter about her incapability to do the same.
Not given any place in the hospital to rest on duty.
Previous fiasco
This is not the first time the hospital’s medical superintendent has been accused of bad behaviour. In December 2014, 300 staffers had called for an indefinite strike to protest against the “mental torture and abuse” allegedly inflicted upon them by Dr Rajshree Katke. “We are treated as her personal servants, and she often abused and insulted us. But last night (December 1), Katke made us look like thieves. The incident crushed our self-respect, and we all were questioned for a ring that was later found in her own laptop bag,” Dhanaji Borule, one of the ward boys present during the incident, had told mid-day after the strike call (http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-over-300-hospital-staffers-go-on-strike-against-abusive-boss/15811167).
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