3 Nair Hospital Doctors Attacked by Mob of patient's relatives; 1 Arrested

Mumbai: In yet another incident of violence against doctors, 3 resident doctors including a female doctor at the well known civic-run Nair Hospital in central Mumbai were attacked by a mob of relatives of a deceased patient. One of the accused who verbally abused and assaulted the doctors has been arrested.

The relatives of the deceased patient also allegedly attacked security guards at the hospital and vandalized property in a fit of rage.

As per the police officials, the incident took place in the evening after the 50 year old patient, who was critically ill, died during treatment.

"As the resident doctors declared the patient dead, 13 to 15 of his relatives stormed into the ward number 23 where he was admitted, and started abusing the doctors. They attacked the doctors and the security guard as well. The relatives also damaged the hospital property," the police official informed PTI.

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An argument broke out between the relatives and the doctors and staffers of the hospital over intubation of the patient, reports Mirror.

According to a report by TOI, the doctors were slapped and pushed by the infuriated relatives.

Subsequently, the injured doctors and the staff then alerted their seniors about the incident, following which they approached Agripada police station.

Based on their complaint, an offence under IPC sections 353, 332, 504, 34 and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners' Act was registered against the attackers, police confirmed, adding that probe is underway.

One accused in the case arrested by Mumbai police, reports Times Now.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) condemned the attack on doctors.

In the statement, the MARD stated, "We, the medical fraternity, are under tremendous mental stress due to the increasing assault and violence against us."

"We urge the deaf government to hear our plea and make a strict Central Protection Act for doctors. We demand that the state government makes necessary changes in the existing. Doctors Protection Act and make solid norms against mob lynching," it added.

"At the college administration level, security audits, pass system and emergency alarm system should be made effective promptly and urgently," it said.

The incident comes over a month after nationwide protests were held demanding enhanced security for doctors after a junior doctor was attacked by the kin of a patient admitted in a hospital in Kolkata.