Dr Vinod Kumar Goud's fellow junior doctors have alleged that their Head of Department subjected them to humiliation, forced them to work 40-hour continuous shifts, and created an environment where residents felt compelled to purchase gifts such as sarees and iPhones.
Published Sep 29, 2025 | 4:16 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 29, 2025 | 4:16 PM
Dr Vinod Kumar Goud
Synopsis: Fellow residents of postgraduate medical student Dr Vinod Kumar Goud, originally from Telangana, who was found dead in his hostel room at the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences in Maharashtra on 27 September, have linked his death to alleged harassment and exploitation by their paediatrics Head of Department. In a public statement, the junior doctors accused the Head of Department of subjecting them to humiliation, forcing them to work 40-hour shifts, and compelling them to buy expensive personal gifts.
A Telugu postgraduate medical student was found dead in his room at the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Maharashtra on Saturday, 27 September. His fellow residents have alleged that the death was linked to a culture of harassment and exploitation.
The deceased, identified as Dr Vinod Kumar Goud, was from Nalgonda district in Telangana and was pursuing a postgraduate degree in paediatrics.
In a public statement titled ‘A Cry for Justice’, Dr Goud’s fellow junior doctors have alleged that their Head of Department subjected them to humiliation, forced them to work 40-hour continuous shifts, and created an environment where residents felt compelled to purchase gifts such as sarees and iPhones.
“Our colleague died because he couldn’t ‘impress’ her enough, even while doing her personal clerical work,” the statement reads. “His final act was one of despair after being insulted in her office.”
They said that Dr Goud faced sustained humiliation and was often made to perform clerical tasks for the department head. The residents pay ₹28 lakh annually for their postgraduate education.
Another young doctor gone. 💔
Because of the toxic culture that continues to crush young doctors in the medical colleges and hospitals.Heartbroken…. Not worth becoming a doctor anymore guys. Cannot imagine the pain of his family! pic.twitter.com/vFLbwZ7Uk1
— Dr. Datta M.D. (AIIMS Delhi) (@DrDatta_AIIMS) September 28, 2025
Following the incident, the registrar of PIMS, a deemed-to-be university, announced that the institute had constituted an enquiry committee, suspended the paediatrics HOD against whom the allegations were raised pending the inquiry’s findings, and pledged cooperation with regulatory bodies.
“The welfare and mental health of our students and residents is of utmost importance to us,” the registrar said. The institute added that it was committed to strengthening its confidential grievance mechanism and urged stakeholders not to draw conclusions before the investigation is complete.
“Such messages, though well-intentioned, can cause additional distress to the bereaved family and may hinder a fair and thorough inquiry,” it said in a statement.
The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), while acknowledging PIMS’s response, called for a deeper probe.
“We earnestly request that a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation be undertaken at the earliest,” MARD said in a statement. The association stressed that the inquiry must identify root causes and implement accountability measures.
Similarly, the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) issued a statement describing the incident as a reflection of systemic issues.
“Dr Vinod’s death has shaken our entire medical fraternity,” T-JUDA said. “It is not merely a personal tragedy but a reflection of a deeper, systemic issue.”
T-JUDA called for an immediate and independent inquiry into Dr Goud’s death and demanded suspension of individuals named in the harassment allegations pending investigation.
The association also pressed for reforms in postgraduate training environments to prevent abuse of power and for stronger protections for whistleblowers.
“We express our solidarity with every junior doctor at PIMS who has spoken up, despite fear,” T-JUDA said. The group added that it would raise the issue with the National Medical Commission and with authorities at the state and central levels.
The junior doctors’ statement outlined what they called systematic problems at the institution. Residents described working shifts that exceeded regulations, facing daily harassment, and operating under what they said was an unspoken rule requiring them to purchase gifts for the department head.
“We are pleading with the world outside our bubble,” the residents wrote in the public statement. “Look into this. Share this story. Demand that the higher authorities at Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences and the National Medical Commission take action.”
The doctors said they felt trapped in their situation and afraid to speak out. They stressed that Dr Goud’s death came after an incident in which he was insulted in the HOD’s office.
The enquiry committee at PIMS has begun its work. The institute said it would cooperate fully with statutory and regulatory bodies to ensure transparency. The registrar assured stakeholders that appropriate action would follow based on the findings.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
