Raipur, 06 Nov 2026: The tragic death of Dr. Ramnaresh Yadav, a postgraduate resident in the Department of Anaesthesiology at AIIMS Jodhpur, on September 22, 2026, has once again brought attention to the issue of toxic work culture and alleged institutional harassment in medical residency programmes.
As a new postgraduate medical session begins across institutions, concerns surrounding discrimination, favouritism, workplace harassment, and hierarchical abuse within medical colleges continue to raise serious questions about the safety and dignity of resident doctors.
In-house toxicity in medical residency is not simply an issue of individual behaviour. It can also reflect deeper systemic failures, particularly when institutional authorities and Heads of Departments fail to address complaints or ensure accountability.
Discrimination based on religion, caste, regional identity, language, and gender, along with favouritism and unequal treatment, can adversely affect the professional growth, mental well-being, and dignity of resident doctors.
Such toxic practices may exist at different levels — horizontally among peers and co-residents, as well as vertically within the hierarchy of junior residents, senior doctors, faculty members, and institutional leadership.
Despite constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity and the regulatory framework established by the National Medical Commission (NMC), concerns remain over the effective implementation of safeguards and accountability mechanisms.
Experts and members of the medical fraternity have repeatedly emphasised the need for transparent grievance-redressal systems, protection against retaliation, institutional accountability, and regular sensitisation programmes to create a healthier working and learning environment.
Medical residency should be a platform for learning, patient care, mentorship, and professional development — not a space for discrimination, exploitation, or abuse of authority.
A message highlighted in the individual writers’ views:
“Toxicity thrives where authority protects perpetrators and institutions silence victims. Residency needs mentorship, not patronage; equality, not discrimination; and accountability, not impunity.”
Dr Amit Banjara
Secretary
JDA Chhattisgarh
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of individual writers and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of NewsNetworkIndia.com
