Mumbai: 1st-Year PG Doctor Dies by Suicide via Anaesthesia Overdose at LTMG Hospital
A first-year postgraduate resident doctor from Karnataka, Dr Shivasharanappa Patil, died by suicide at Mumbai's Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital in Sion through an anaesthesia overdose. Following the registration of an accidental death report, MARD demanded urgent reforms, citing excessive 36-hour shifts, severe burnout, and inadequate hospital staffing.
A resident doctor from Karnataka allegedly died by suicide at his hostel at Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital after administering an overdose of anaesthesia, police said on Sunday, October 11. The deceased, Dr Shivasharanappa Patil, was a first-year postgraduate student at the civic-run hospital in Sion.
Dr Patil was found dead in his hostel bathroom around 7:30 pm on Saturday, according to the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD). A police official told news agency PTI that the incident came to light after Patil’s hostel room remained closed for an extended period. An accidental death report has been registered, and further investigation is underway. Maharashtra: 19-Year-Old NEET Aspirant Dies by Suicide, Leaves Note Saying ‘Will Become Doctor in Next Life’.
Discovery in Hostel and Police Investigation
According to officials, hospital authorities and hostel residents grew concerned when Patil did not emerge from his quarters for several hours. Upon checking the premises, security and fellow doctors gained entry to the locked bathroom, where he was found unresponsive.
Medical staff administered emergency examinations, but he was declared dead on the spot. Sion police took custody of the room and sent the body for post-mortem analysis to determine the exact toxicity levels of the administered anaesthetic agents.
MARD Demands Urgent Action on Resident Doctors' Mental Health
Reacting to his death, the BMC wing of MARD expressed grief and called for urgent steps to address the mental health and well-being of resident doctors, citing prolonged duty hours, excessive workloads and inadequate staffing.
MARD cited the National Medical Commission’s task force report on the mental health and well-being of medical students, which found that 31.2 per cent of postgraduate residents had experienced suicidal ideation. It also referred to a peer-reviewed study that identified 105 reported suicide deaths among resident doctors in India between 2010 and 2019.
The association said concerns over sleep deprivation and burnout had persisted, with some resident doctors reportedly working continuously for more than 36 hours.
Calls for Regulated Duty Shifts and Institutional Safeguards
Urging the National Medical Commission and other authorities to act, MARD called for regulated duty hours, adequate staffing, mandatory rest periods and accessible mental health support.
“Resident doctors dedicate themselves to caring for patients, but their own health and well-being must not be neglected,” the association said, urging that Patil’s death prompt meaningful improvements in working conditions.
Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Helpline Numbers:
Tele Manas (Ministry of Health) – 14416 or 1800 891 4416; NIMHANS – 080-46110007; Peak Mind – 080-456 87786; Vandrevala Foundation – 9999 666 555; Arpita Suicide Prevention Helpline – 080-23655557; iCALL – 022-25521111 and 9152987821; COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ) – 8322252525.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 13, 2026 06:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
