The chief gynaecologist of the Northern Hospital, Dr Salickram Dassaye, 58, had to pay a bail of Rs 15,000 and an acknowledgement of Rs 15,000 to regain his parole on Monday 31 July. This followed his arrest at Victoria Hospital, Candos on the same day by a team of police officers from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Pamplemousses on a charge of harassment. He was questioned by a 23-year-old Pre-Registration Health Officer at the Hôpital du Nord in a precautionary measure at the hospital’s police station on the evening of Thursday 27 July, after an email was sent to the Regional Health Director. The doctor denied the allegations made against him.
Dr Salickram Dassaye was arrested by the men of sub-inspector Seeparsand of the Pamplemousses CID, under the supervision of Assistant Superintendent of Police Jankeeparsad Buchoo of the Northern Division CID. When confronted with the accusations made against him, Dr Salickram Dassaye denied them. However, he was identified by the Pre-Registration Health Officer and another of her colleagues.
The 23-year-old explained the history of her training at the northern hospital, which began on 11 October 2022. On 18 July last, a meeting had been organised by this head gynaecologist at around 2.30pm with two other Pre-Registration Health Officers in the hospital’s main operating theatre. The doctor asked them to come forward. He then asked them personal questions, such as whether we were married. His comments were inappropriate and humiliating.
On Wednesday 19 July, Dr Salickram Dassaye, who was in the company of two other doctors and a nurse who were with a patient in the operating theatre, asked them the same questions in front of the medical staff. She was once again humiliated and shocked. The woman explained that she had been disturbed by the doctor’s behaviour throughout the examination. According to her, the doctor identified her as a member of the LGBT community.
After confiding in her parents, an email was sent to the hospital’s regional health director. She made this statement to the police because the situation had caused her moral damage and she was about to submit her resignation at work.
