Kasturba Hospital doctor kills self

A senior doctor from Kasturba Hospital, Chinchpokli, was found dead in his staff quarters on Friday morning, reports Neha Bhayana.

A senior doctor from Kasturba Hospital, Chinchpokli, was found dead in his staff quarters on Friday morning.

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Dr Umesh Prabhu (41), who had been sacked for misconduct and medical negligence four months ago, committed suicide by taking a lethal dose of sleeping pills with alcohol.

A cleaner, seeing a pile of newspapers outside Prabhu’s door, of the doctors’ quarters around 10 am on Friday, called the superintendent, who called the police. On breaking the door open, they found Prabhu’s body lying on the bed.

Hospital sources said he had taken several pills of phenobarbital, an anti-epileptic drug with alcohol, and an injection of an unspecified drug.

While BMC health officials refused comment, Agripada police registered it as accidental death. Senior Inspector Pravin Gosavi said Prabhu probably killed himself on Wednesday or Thursday as the body had begun decomposing.

In his suicide note, Prabhu requested he be buried in Mumbai and his refrigerator be given to the hospital canteen. “He also left a mobile number of an uncle in Mangalore,” added Gosavi.

Prabhu had worked at Kasturba Hospital for 12 years and was assistant medical officer. He was given a termination notice on July 27, following inquiries into three medical negligence complaints which found him guilty, sources said. Police said the termination could have led to depression and driven him to suicide.