Pune is witnessing heightened tensions following the registration of an FIR against Dr. Sushrut Ghaisas, a former consulting gynecologist at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, accused of medical negligence in the death of 37-year-old pregnant woman Tanisha Bhise. The case has sparked a strong reaction from the city’s medical community, which has issued a warning of protests should any punitive action be taken against Dr. Ghaisas.
The FIR was filed under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing negligence leading to death but not culpable homicide. The police action followed a revised report by a six-member expert committee from Sassoon General Hospital and BJ Medical College, which explicitly blamed Dr. Ghaisas for failing to admit Bhise promptly and displaying insensitivity during her critical condition. Bhise was allegedly denied emergency admission at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital due to the inability to pay a ₹10 lakh deposit, later delivering twins at another hospital before succumbing to complications.
In response, several doctors’ associations, including the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Pune chapter, have condemned the FIR as unjust and politically motivated. The IMA has expressed strong support for Dr. Ghaisas, asserting that he did not deny treatment and pledging legal assistance. Medical professionals warn that any disciplinary action against him could trigger widespread protests and unrest within the medical fraternity in Pune.
Dr. Ghaisas, who resigned amid the controversy, has also been provided police security following threats to his safety. The situation has escalated into public outrage and political debates, with protests held outside the hospital and even vandalism reported at Dr. Ghaisas’s private clinic.
Authorities continue to investigate the complex circumstances involving multiple hospitals that treated Bhise. Meanwhile, the medical community’s warning signals a deep divide between public sentiment and professional solidarity, underscoring the sensitive nature of accountability in healthcare negligence cases.
