Dr. Vijaykumar, a final-year MS General Surgery resident at Tiruvannamalai Medical College, died after ingesting Paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide.
Published Oct 23, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 23, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Doctor. (Representative image)
Synopsis: While the exact circumstances at his college remain unclear, the incident exposes two urgent and interlinked challenges: the lack of structured mental health support for interns and postgraduate students, and the dangers posed by easily accessible toxic substances.
The tragic death of a young doctor in Tamil Nadu has once again cast a harsh light on the pressures faced by resident doctors across India.
Dr. Vijaykumar, a final-year MS General Surgery resident at Tiruvannamalai Medical College, died after ingesting Paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide.
While the exact circumstances at his college remain unclear, the incident exposes two urgent and interlinked challenges: the lack of structured mental health support for interns and postgraduate students, and the dangers posed by easily accessible toxic substances.
Experts and medical leaders say that incidents like this are symptomatic of a larger problem.
Across India, resident doctors are working under extreme stress, often doing 36-40 hour shifts without proper rest and carrying the full burden of patient care. “What I heard was deeply disturbing — and sadly, not uncommon,” said Dr. Ashutosh Mishra, a health activist and medico.
Many young doctors face humiliation by senior faculty, sometimes even in front of nurses and patients. “This constant mental and emotional pressure is breaking them from within,” he added, noting that incidents like these highlight the urgent need for structured mental health support for interns and postgraduate students across the country.
Paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride) is a widely used, non-selective herbicide known for its rapid action in killing weeds and grasses. It is particularly prevalent in agricultural regions due to its effectiveness and cost-efficiency. Despite its utility in crop management, paraquat poses significant health risks to humans, especially when ingested or improperly handled.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also classifies paraquat as a highly toxic substance, with ingestion leading to severe and often fatal outcomes. Acute poisoning can cause multi-organ failure, primarily affecting the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, respiratory distress, and jaundice. The mortality rate is high, often exceeding 50 percent in severe cases. Notably, paraquat has no known antidote, making early medical intervention crucial for survival.
Despite its dangers, paraquat remains available in several countries, including India, where it is used extensively in agriculture. This widespread availability, coupled with limited regulation and enforcement, contributes to its misuse and the occurrence of poisoning incidents.
In contrast, countries, including the European Union, China, and the United Kingdom, have banned or severely restricted its use due to safety concerns. The continued use of paraquat underscores the need for stringent regulations and enforcement to protect public health.
Dr Keerthy Varman, General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors’ Association (TNRDA), highlighted the urgent need for a workplace-friendly support system for interns and postgraduate students. He said, “Medical interns and PG students work round the clock, often under extreme departmental and family pressures. Extra care must be given to safeguard their mental well-being.”
He pointed out that a student-friendly welfare board should be established in every district hospital, with representatives chosen from among the students themselves. “Otherwise, their problems will remain unheard even if a board exists,” he explained.
Dr. Varman emphasized that young doctors carry the entire burden of patient care and are essentially the backbone of the hospital system. He further noted that the combination of 24×7 duties, hierarchical pressure, and personal stress places residents at high risk, and incidents like Dr Vijaykumar’s death highlight the consequences of neglecting their welfare.
He also called for a proper investigation into this case, suggesting that the government assign a committee to probe the incident and monitor workplace safety, verbal or physical abuse, and harassment. “We must frequently check and monitor the health updates of resident doctors to prevent such tragedies,” he said.
Dr Varman stressed that Paraquat, the herbicide ingested by Dr Vijaykumar, is extremely toxic and nearly always fatal. “During my time at Stanley Medical College, I personally saw patients who had ingested Paraquat. Tragically, not a single one survived. This is a lethal substance, and everyone knows its danger, yet it remains accessible,” he said, citing a previous case of an MBBS intern who had died from the same substance.
He highlighted that more than 70 countries have banned Paraquat, and while Tamil Nadu is reportedly moving toward a ban, enforcement remains weak.
Dr Varman urged the government to find safer substitutes for such herbicides, compounds that could be used in place of Paraquat and treated effectively if ingested. “We know the potential of these substances. So it should be banned or replaced to prevent fatal outcomes,” he emphasized.
He also linked the availability of such toxic substances to mental health crises among young doctors, saying that institutional pressures combined with access to lethal agents can lead to tragic outcomes. In his view, stricter regulation, monitoring, and proactive safety measures are essential to protect both resident doctors and the wider society.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
