The death of 28-year-old Bikram Bhattacharjee from Konnagar, West Bengal, has ignited controversy after claims of medical negligence at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Bhattacharjee, who was critically injured in a truck accident, died on Friday, allegedly due to a lack of treatment at the hospital.
The incident occurred just a day after the closure of help desks at all five medical colleges in Kolkata following protests by the ‘Joint Platform of Doctors.’ Bhattacharjee was reportedly left untreated at RG Kar Medical College, sparking accusations of negligence.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kunal Ghosh shared media reports suggesting that Bhattacharjee had not received proper care. The hospital, however, denied these allegations. While Bhattacharjee’s family has not filed a formal complaint, police sources confirmed a general diary entry had been made.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee also reacted, criticizing the medical staff for allowing Bhattacharjee to bleed for hours without attention. In a post on X, he urged junior doctors to protest responsibly, ensuring essential services were not disrupted. Banerjee warned that preventable deaths due to neglect could be considered “culpable homicide.”
The protests by junior doctors were triggered by concerns that help desks were giving the impression that medical services were unavailable. Bhattacharjee’s family claimed they were told there were no doctors available, leading to a fatal delay in treatment.