The death of a junior doctor in Indonesia has brought attention to the widespread issue of bullying in medical schools across the country. The doctor, Aulia Risma Lestari, a 30-year-old anaesthesia resident at Diponegoro University in Semarang, was found dead in her home, with authorities investigating the possibility of suicide.
Leaked Messages: After her death, leaked WhatsApp messages between Lestari and her seniors surfaced online, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). The messages allegedly revealed that her seniors pressured her into covering their expenses for food, entertainment, and car rentals.
Health Minister’s Response: Indonesia’s health minister, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, described bullying in the medical field as an “open secret.” He vowed to take action against the perpetrators, pushing for strict legal measures to ensure harsh punishment and create a deterrent effect.
Bullying Cases in Indonesia: According to Indonesia’s health ministry, 356 formal complaints of bullying were filed between July 2023 and August 2024. Investigations were conducted in 156 cases, leading to suspensions or dismissals. The complaints included reports of physical abuse, financial extortion, verbal harassment, and intimidation.
Health ministry spokesman Mohammad Syahril stated, “The Health Ministry will always take stern action against the bullies. Their names will also be flagged in the system as perpetrators.”
Rising Voices Against Bullying: Following the tragic incident, several junior doctors have shared their experiences of being bullied. A 29-year-old oncology surgery resident, Agung Purnama (name changed), described being pressured to work excessive hours by his seniors, fearing it would affect his grades and future as a doctor. He explained, “You feel like you have no choice but to do as they say … I spent so much time and money to get to this point, so it feels like you don’t want to do anything to risk that.”
Founder and chief executive of the advocacy group Centre for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives, Diah Satyani Saminarsih, commented on the culture of bullying in medical education, saying, “There is a tendency to normalize bullying due to the pressure and demands of medical training, but this should never be tolerated.” She also highlighted that junior doctors face the highest risk of exposure to such mistreatment.
This tragic incident has amplified the call for an end to the normalization of bullying in Indonesia’s medical education system.