The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has suspended the membership of Dr. Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. This decision follows a request from the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), which raised concerns about Ghosh’s ongoing association with the organisation.
“The disciplinary committee of IMA HQS has unanimously decided to suspend you forthwith from the membership of Indian Medical Association,” states IMA’s letter addressed to Dr Sandip Ghosh, who was also the vice president of IMA Calcutta Branch.
In a statement on August 28, FAIMA called for the revocation of Ghosh’s IMA membership amidst a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into serious allegations. The investigation involves the alleged rape and murder of a female medic at the Kolkata institute and alleged financial irregularities at the facility.
The CBI has initiated lie detection tests on Ghosh and others as part of its investigation. The medical college has been in the spotlight since the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9, for which a civic volunteer named Sanjay Roy has been arrested.
FAIMA’s letter to the IMA emphasized that Ghosh’s continued affiliation is “inappropriate and detrimental to the reputation and ethical standards” of the organisation. While respecting the principle of “innocent until proven guilty,” FAIMA underscored the importance of upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within the medical profession.
The letter urged the IMA to take decisive action to protect the credibility of the association and demonstrate that misconduct, regardless of an individual’s position, will not be tolerated. FAIMA called for Ghosh’s membership to be revoked until the legal proceedings are concluded.
FAIMA’s letter said there was a need for decisive action by the IMA to preserve the credibility of the association and to send a clear message that misconduct of any form will not be tolerated, regardless of the individual’s position.
“We strongly urge the Indian Medical Association to revoke Dr. Sandeep Ghosh’s membership until the legal proceedings against him are concluded. This action is necessary to maintain the credibility of our association and to affirm that the IMA does not condone any form of misconduct,” the letter read.
FAIMA reiterated its commitment to upholding the ethical standards of the medical profession and condemned any actions that could bring disrepute to the medical community.