The tagline “Reel it, feel it” on Instagram Reels has resulted in repercussions for medical students at Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Karnataka. Thirty-eight college students have faced penalties for recording reels within the hospital premises, breaching hospital regulations. The hospital administration responded by extending their housemanship training period by 10 days, marking a disciplinary action taken on Saturday.
Dr. Basavaraj Bommanhalli, the Director of Gadag Institute of Medical Science, condemned the students’ actions as a significant error. He emphasized the importance of respecting hospital protocols, stating that such activities should have been conducted outside the hospital premises to avoid inconveniencing patients. Despite claims that the recordings were intended for a pre-graduation ceremony, Dr. Bommanhalli clarified that no permission had been granted for such activities. Consequently, the students’ housemanship training, initially set to conclude within the next 10-20 days, has been prolonged by an additional 10 days.
This incident occurred shortly after Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao dismissed a doctor for organizing a pre-wedding photoshoot within the operation theatre of a government hospital in Chitradurga district. The discovery of videos depicting medical students dancing to Hindi and Kannada songs in the hospital corridor sparked widespread criticism on social media platforms. Users expressed disapproval, perceiving the students’ behavior as indicative of a lack of dedication to their professional responsibilities.