Youth's Death at RG Kar: Doctors Accuse Abhishek Banerjee of Spreading Fake News, Seek Apology

Kolkata: The controversy over the death of a 28-year-old youth at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has intensified further as the Joint Platform of Doctors in West Bengal have written a letter to TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, demanding an unconditional public apology from him for villainizing the medical fraternity protesting over Kolkata horror.

Notably, a month has passed since the horrific rape and murder of a trainee woman's doctor in Kolkata came to the fore.

Expressing deep concerns, the doctors' body accused the TMC leader of putting out "untrue and malicious statement" in relation with the youth's demise. 

'Banerjee's Statement Categorically False and Misleading'

For the unversed the youth died at RG Kar on September 6. The incident took place a day after the state health department reportedly had to close down help desks at all the five medical colleges in Kolkata following the agitation of ‘Joint Platform of Doctors’. 

'Your Public Statement Potentially Dangerous'

Describing Abhishek Banerjee's post as misleading, the doctor's body wrote, "Dear Mr. Banerjee, We are writing to formally protest and express deep concern regarding the untrue and malicious statement you posted on your X (formerly Twitter) handle on September 6, 2024, at 10:27 PM. In your post, you stated: "A young boy from Konnagar lost his life today following a road accident, after bleeding for 3 hours without receiving medical attention, a consequence of ongoing protest by doctors in response to the #RGkar incident." This statement is categorically false and misleading."

The doctor body claimed that the patient who met with a road accident was promptly attended at RG Kar at 9.10am but unfortunately he passed away at 12.30pm despite continued efforts by doctors to save him.

"The young male patient, suffering from polytrauma due to a tragic road accident, was referred to a higher center from Srirampur and was received at R.G. Kar Medical College promptly at 9:10 AM on the same day, September 6, 2024. The doctors on duty immediately attended to him and continued to provide medical care at several intervals until his unfortunate demise at 12:30 PM, as noted in the provisional death certificate (PM No. RG 2400791300, dated 6.9.2024). The bed head tickets as well as the statement of the MSVP of RGKMCH will categorically substantiate our claim and refute your post. Contrary to your claim, the patient did not "bleed for 3 hours without receiving medical attention," the statement further read.

The doctors' body slammed the TMC neta over his post for spreading misinformation and warned him against risk of inciting violence against the medical community.

"Your assertion lacks any foundation in truth and disregards the efforts made by the medical professionals who did everything within their power to save the patient's life. Your public statement is not only factually incorrect but also potentially dangerous. By spreading such misinformation, you are risking inciting violence and hostility against the medical community, which is already under immense pressure and shock after the heinous crime committed against a trainee doctor at RGKMCH on August 9, 2024."

‘Baseless Accusations Further Demoralize Healthcare Professionals’

The doctors' body further wrote that they are struggling to serve the people despite the hostile conditions they currently face and such baseless accusations further demoralize them.

"Such baseless accusations further demoralize healthcare professionals who are struggling to serve the people of this state, despite the hostile conditions they currently face. In light of these facts, we demand that you issue an unconditional public apology to the medical fraternity and immediately retract your false statement. It is imperative that political leaders like yourself exercise responsibility and ensure that your words do not inflame tensions or lead to further unrest. We expect you to set the record straight and take corrective action promptly to prevent any potential repercussions arising from your misleading post."

What Did Banerjee Say?

This comes after TMC 's Abhishek Banerjee claimed that the youth, identified as, Bikram Bhattacharjee (28), died due to to non-treatment at RG Kar Hospital after bleeding for 3 hours. Banerjee blamed the doctors' protest over Kolkata doctor-rape case for the death of the man.

Taking to X, Banerjee had tweeted on September 6, “A young boy from Konnagar lost his life today following a road accident, after BLEEDING FOR 3 HOURS WITHOUT RECEIVING MEDICAL ATTENTION, a consequence of the ongoing protest by doctors in response to the #RGKar incident. While the demands of the junior doctors are both fair and valid, I urge them to protest in a way that doesn’t disrupt essential medical services. Allowing a death due to PREVENTABLE NEGLECT is tantamount to CULPABLE HOMICIDE. If the protest has to continue, it should be done constructively, with empathy and humanity, ensuring no more lives are put at risk through inaction or neglect (sic)."