IMA suspends membership of former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh

Sandip Ghosh

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has suspended the membership of Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The suspension came after a request from Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), which had expressed concerns over Ghosh's continued association with the organisation.

The development comes days after a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered in the seminar hall of the state-run hospital on August 9, which sparked massive protests across the country.

The Indian Medical Association, in an order, said the committee constituted by IMA national president Dr RV Asokan on Wednesday suo-motu considered the rape and murder case of the postgraduate resident doctor and the subsequent developments at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, reported PTI.

The order said the disciplinary committee of the IMA has unanimously decided to suspend Sandip Ghosh, vice president, IMA Calcutta branch from its membership.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated lie detection tests on Ghosh and other individuals as part of their ongoing investigation into the rape and murder of the female doctor. The central probe agency has also registered a case of alleged financial irregularities at the facility.

In its letter to IMA, FAIMA said, "While we respect the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty', it is imperative that our organisation upholds the highest standards of integrity and accountability, especially when a member is involved in such a serious legal matter."

The doctors' body further stated- "When a member of our community is implicated in such a grave offense, it is our responsibility to take appropriate action to preserve to preserve the dignity and moral standing of the medical profession."

The rape-murder incident took place when the doctor had gone to the seminar hall to take rest during her graveyard shift in the early hours of August 9.

A day after the incident, civic volunteer Sanjay Roy was arrested on the basis of a CCTV footage. The video showed Roy entering the seminar hall at 4.03 am on the day of the incident.