On July 28, 2025, a road accident victim named Sunil died at Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial (LLRM) Medical College in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, after bleeding heavily in the emergency ward. Security footage revealed two junior doctors, Bhupesh Kumar Rai and Aniket, sleeping while Sunil awaited treatment. The incident prompted the suspension of both doctors and sparked an investigation by the Meerut District Magistrate.
Police brought Sunil to the hospital on Monday evening following a road accident. He was admitted to the emergency ward with severe bleeding. Sunil’s family reported that he remained on a stretcher, crying in pain, while the junior doctors failed to provide timely care. A viral video showed one doctor sleeping in front of an air conditioner with a leg on a table. A woman holding a child and a prescription attempted to wake the doctor, but he did not respond. Sunil, lying on a hospital bed nearby, continued to bleed from his leg.
The duty-in-charge, Dr. Shashank Jindal, was absent during the incident. Upon learning of the situation, Dr. Jindal returned to the hospital and provided Sunil with intravenous fluids and a cast. Despite these efforts, Sunil succumbed to his injuries at 7 a.m. on July 29, 2025. His family claimed that the delay in treatment caused his death, while Dr. Jindal stated that Sunil was already in critical condition upon arrival.
Dr. RC Gupta, Principal of LLRM Medical College, confirmed the suspension of the two junior doctors. He stated that an investigation is underway to examine the circumstances of the incident. The Meerut District Magistrate has been tasked with conducting a thorough inquiry to determine the extent of negligence and ensure accountability.
According to the District Magistrate, Deepak Meena, a three-member probe committee has been constituted to investigate the case. The committee includes Additional District Magistrate (City) Atul Kumar, Additional Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) Dr. Rajkumar, and CMS of the District Hospital, Dr. Dinesh Kumar. The panel has been directed to submit a report at the earliest.
The viral video was widely circulated online, sparking outrage over hospital staff behavior and prompting authorities to act quickly. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has been informed of the incident.
The Times of India reported that Chief Medical Superintendent Dr. Dinesh Kumar stated the patient had already suffered major blood loss by the time he reached the hospital. Dr. Kumar emphasized that the patient was given all possible treatment once the situation was noticed.
Reacting to the incident, Dr. Saurav (@DrSaurav5) of Delhi’s RML Hospital wrote on X that junior residents often work continuous 36-hour shifts, during which exhaustion is inevitable. He stressed that “sleep is a basic human need” and questioned the systemic failure that forces young doctors to function under such extreme stress.
Dr. Dhruv Chauhan (@DrDhruvchauhan), a national medical representative, also commented on the incident, stating that while negligence must be addressed, it is equally important to discuss the working conditions of doctors in government hospitals. He pointed out the frequent staffing shortages and said the issue reflects larger structural problems in public healthcare delivery.
The incident has drawn attention to healthcare challenges in the region, with the viral video amplifying public concern. Authorities have assured that the investigation will clarify the events leading to Sunil’s death and address any lapses in the hospital’s emergency response.
(Rh/Eth/NS/SE)