Tragic Suicide at Sree Mookambika Institute: Student Names Three in Note

In a deeply tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through the medical community, a second-year postgraduate (PG) resident doctor, Dr. Sugirtha Sivakumar, from Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Science in Kulasekharam, Tamil Nadu, has taken her own life. The heart-wrenching incident has drawn attention due to the alleged harassment she endured, as mentioned in her suicide note. Dr. Sugirtha hailed from Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, and was a dedicated PG second-year resident doctor.

According to Dr. Vimala, a close friend of the deceased and a PG Resident at Stanley Medical College, Chennai, the tragic discovery was made on October 7 when the police broke into her hostel room around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, only to find that she had passed away.

The medical student blamed her seniors on her suicide note before taking an excess amount of muscle relaxant.

The suicide note recovered from the scene reveals the torment Dr. Sugirtha endured, with allegations of sexual harassment, physical abuse, and mental torment inflicted by the Head of the Department (HoD) of Anesthesiology. The note also implicates two other PG doctors in this distressing matter.

Dr. Sugirtha's note, which EdexLive has access to, expressed apologies to her "Appa" and left a poignant "I LOVE YOU THE MOST" message. The individuals named in the note are:

Dr. Paramasivan, accused of sexual harassment, physical, and mental abuse.

Dr. Harish, implicated in senior toxicity and mental abuse.

Dr. Preethi, mentioned for senior toxicity.

Friends and mentors remember Dr. Sugirtha as a talented, diligent, and hardworking individual. Dr. Prathibha, her first-year professor at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, recalled the last interaction she had with her on September 5, when Dr. Sugirtha wished her a Happy Teachers' Day. Dr. Prathibha fondly remembered Dr. Sugirtha as a lovely, gentle, and soft-spoken student who had even gifted her hand-written notes that she cherished.

Dr. Sugirtha's workload, reportedly exceeding 20 hours a day, took a toll on her, isolating her from friends and contributing to her stress. Her friends revealed that she had never shared her struggles with anyone.

The Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association (TNMSA) expressed deep sorrow over this tragedy and called for a thorough inquiry into the matter. They had previously requested the Health Secretary to establish a Medical Students Welfare Board to address issues related to mental health and sexual harassment, and they urged the government to take swift action to prevent such incidents in the future.

Dr. M Keerthy Varman, President of TNMSA, emphasized the need to protect the welfare of students, especially female PGs who face toxicity in their work environment. He stressed that the implementation of a medical students welfare board is crucial.

Dr. Vimala highlighted the urgent need to address workplace harassment through a dedicated forum and called for clear guidelines and support mechanisms for individuals facing such situations.

Dr. Sugirtha left behind a poignant message in her note: "DEPRESSED PEOPLE CAN ALSO BE SEEN HAPPY. BE KIND. DON'T JUDGE. BE THERE FOR THEM." Her tragic loss underscores the pressing need for comprehensive mental health support and intervention to prevent such devastating incidents in the future."