“Do you know how to sew?” Kolkata Doctor Receives Backlash Over Post Showing Woman Getting Stitches After Delivery

A photograph from a Kolkata delivery room has triggered a debate about patient consent, privacy and what doctors should share on social media.

The picture shows an intern doctor performing suturing on a woman after childbirth. The doctor shared it online with a casual caption about sewing. After screenshots of the post circulated on X, questions were raised about patient privacy and whether consent alone is enough when a medical procedure is being documented for social media.

The intern has since defended the post, saying the woman gave her permission.

Here is what happened.

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Who Is The Doctor At The Centre Of The Controversy?

The doctor has been identified in media reports as Dr. Sudeshna Mondal, an intern at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH) in Kolkata. 

A photograph shared from her Instagram showed her in surgical scrubs, gloves, a mask and a hairnet while holding a needle holder and suture material. The image appears to show her stitching tissue following childbirth.

She captioned the post, “Silai bunai aata hai?”, which translates to, “Do you know how to sew?” 

The photograph was reportedly posted earlier in September. It later resurfaced on X, where users began questioning whether a patient's image from a delivery room should have been shared publicly. Her Instagram account has since been made private. 

It Wasn't Her First Social Media Controversy

The latest backlash came after another incident involving photographs of a newborn.

According to Hindustan Times, Dr. Sudeshna had previously shared pictures of a newborn online. On 5 September, she apologised for those posts, saying she had not realised that sharing them was inappropriate and acknowledging the emotional and personal significance attached to a newborn. 

The earlier apology became relevant again after the delivery-room photograph resurfaced.

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What Did Dr. Sudeshna Say In Her Defence?

Dr. Sudeshna has disputed the suggestion that the photograph was shared without the patient's permission.

She said the new mother had given informed consent four hours after delivery, when she was not under anaesthesia. She also claimed that the woman had offered to have photographs taken with her newborn and had herself taken pictures of the doctor holding the baby. 

In response to criticism over medical ethics, Dr. Sudeshna also argued that the photograph did not violate NMC guidelines because she was not using it to promote pharmaceutical products. 

One critic, Dr. BL Bairwa, described the post as “unethical”, according to Hindustan Times. 

That has left the central question open: if a patient gives permission, does that automatically make sharing a clinical photograph on social media appropriate?

What Do Medical Ethics Rules Say?

The National Medical Commission's 2023 Professional Conduct Regulations included provisions on doctors' professional conduct, including patient privacy and confidentiality.

However, the NMC placed these regulations in abeyance on 23 August 2023. The NMC's current rules page continues to record this status.

The NMC also lists the 2002 Code of Medical Ethics, which requires doctors to maintain the confidentiality of information concerning their patients, subject to specified exceptions.

The controversy therefore raises a broader question about how doctors should balance patient consent, privacy and professional responsibilities when sharing clinical moments online.

TL;DR | News At a Glance

What happened in Kolkata?
An intern doctor shared a photograph appearing to show her stitching a woman after childbirth, with the caption “Silai bunai aata hai?”

Who is the doctor?
Media reports identified her as Dr. Sudeshna Mondal, an intern at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital.

Why did the post attract criticism?
Users questioned patient privacy and whether a delivery-room photograph should be shared publicly on social media.

What has Dr. Sudeshna said?
She said the new mother gave informed consent four hours after delivery and was not under anaesthesia at the time.

What are the medical ethics rules?
The NMC's 2023 regulations, which specifically barred posting patient photographs on social media, were placed in abeyance in August 2023. The 2002 professional-conduct code currently listed by the NMC includes duties around patient confidentiality and restrictions on publishing identifiable patient photographs without permission.