Surat Medical College Doctor Dies by Suicide in Dissection Hall

SURAT: A second resident doctor has died by suicide at Surat’s New Civil Hospital campus in less than two months, raising fresh concerns over the pressures faced by postgraduate medical students. Dr Yogendra Dilip Prajapati, a third-year resident in the Anatomy Department of Government Medical College, died by suicide inside the dissection hall on Thursday afternoon.

The incident triggered panic across the Civil Hospital campus, where the dissection hall is used by medical students for practical anatomy training. Police were informed and the doctor’s body was sent for post-mortem examination as part of the medico-legal procedure.

According to sources at the medical college, Prajapati’s examination results were declared on September 18 and he had reportedly failed. His examinations had concluded only recently, and he was completing the final phase of his three-year residency after MBBS. Police are investigating whether academic pressure or any other circumstances played a role. No definitive reason for his death has been established so far.

Prajapati was married and lived with his wife, who is also a homeopathy doctor, in the Civil Hospital campus hostel.

“This is a very tragic incident,” Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Parul Vadgama said. “He was in the dissection hall from morning until afternoon and was actively involved in the undergraduate students’ examinations. His own examinations had concluded just last week.”

Medical College Dean Dr Jayesh Brahmbhatt said, “This is a very tragic and shocking event. We will gather full details and certainly try to ascertain the root cause through the police investigation. We had received no complaints regarding this student in the past.”

The death comes weeks after Dr Harsh Pandya, a first-year postgraduate Microbiology student, died by suicide on August 9. An anti-ragging inquiry subsequently found four senior residents involved in harassment allegations, leading to their suspension.

Police are now examining the circumstances surrounding Prajapati’s death, including whether any note or other evidence could establish the reason behind the incident.