Zero tolerance towards sexual harassment, says MMC dean

Madurai: Following the suspension of an anaesthesiologist at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) and Madurai Medical College over sexual harassment complaints, dean of the hospital, Dr A Rathinavel on Monday reiterated that the institution has a zero tolerance policy towards sexual harassment or abuse of any manner and that due process was followed when conducting the Vishaka committee inquiry.

Dr S Syed Thahir Hussain, an assistant professor of the department of anaesthesiology, was suspended on the orders of Tamil Nadu director of medical education (DME), Dr R Shanthi Malar, on May 19, after a Vishaka committee report was submitted regarding complaints of women students of Madurai Medical College being sexually harassed repeatedly by him. However, the suspended doctor had claimed that the complaints were fabricated and he was being targetted by people with vested interests.

“Around 62% of staff nurses, students and doctors at Madurai Medical College are women and this is the first time such a complaint reached the Vishaka committee. We took this complaint seriously and the report is completely factual,” said Dr Rathinavel.

As many as 23 students of BSc Operation Theatre & Anaesthesia Technology, submitted written complaints alleging sexual harassment by Dr Thahir. Further, 16 students, a staff nurse and two medical officers appeared before the committee. A few students also came forward to speak about what happened to them.

“The students who appeared before the committee were all scared and some broke down when speaking about the sexual harassment. Most of them shared that the suspended doctor made inappropriate remarks that were sexual in nature, used inappropriate pet names and inappropriate touched them. The harassment happened inside operation theatres on many occasions,” said Dr V Dhanalakshmi, vice principal of Madurai Medical College and chairman of the committee.