Physicians in India went on a one-day strike Saturday in protest of the alleged rape and murder of a student at R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The action, organized by the Indian Medical Association, comes as healthcare professionals in the country have participated in nationwide demonstrations and vigils over the death of a second-year trainee doctor who was found dead in a seminar hall where she had gone to rest after the end of her shift.
An autopsy has shown that the 31-year-old was the victim of sexual penetration and strangulation when she was discovered unresponsive by colleagues on August 9 with lacerations to her hand, eyes, face, leg, neck, and genital areas. Investigators have stated that the amount of semen recovered from the scene may suggest that there were multiple attackers.
One individual, described as a volunteer with the city’s police force, was arrested on the day of the incident.
Healthcare workers in India’s public hospitals have long complained about the unsafe working conditions that arise from treating patients in the often-crowded facilities with limited budgets.
