Assault on MCH Female Neurosurgeon: Only one bystander for inpatients to be allowed in medical colleges

Thiruvananthapuram: Following the brutal assault on a female Neurosurgeon at the Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital who was allegedly kicked by a bystander in the lower abdomen over the death of a patient, Health Minister Veen George has directed that only one bystander would be allowed to stay with patients in ICUs and wards at government medical college hospitals in the state. If any patient needs an additional bystander then he or she has to acquire a special pass on the direction of the doctor.

The visiting hours in the MCH would be restricted to two hours, between 3.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. 

Moreover, she has also directed to install alarm bells to alert security officers and set up a special room to address the concerns of the family members of the patients, TNIE reports.

The accused Senthil Kumar, a native of Velichikala in Kollam surrendered and was recently released on anticipatory bail on direction of the court after assaulting a 30-year-old neurosurgeon at the hospital when informed about the death of his wife Shubha, who was undergoing treatment there.

During a meeting held on Tuesday, Minister Veena took the decisions in order to prevent such attacks on doctors in near future. She said the visiting hours of the hospital to meet patients admitted in wards have been changed between 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm and hospital authorities have been asked to increase the security and impose restrictions for visitors.

She said to set up a police outpost at the Thiruvananthapuram MCH to handle such incidents in future. The number of the aid post and the police officers should be given to all the departments functioning in the emergency wing said the Minister.

Kumar's wife Shubha was suffering from heart disease, respiratory illness, and had a brain tumour. Surgery was conducted a few days ago to save her and she was transferred to neurosurgery super speciality ward-6 two days prior to the attack. Due to her several health conditions, she succumbed to death. Doctor tried effortlessly to save her but unfortunately, she passed away.

On November 23, when the doctor informed her husband about her death, he allegedly kicked her lower abdomen in front of an ICU in the middle of the night out of rage. The doctor was in extreme pain and collapsed on the spot. She was later taken inside the hospital for treatment. The attack was captured on CCTV which showed that she was surrounded by a group of bystanders.

According to TOI report, a case was registered at the medical college police station against the accused and the police booked Kumar under IPC sections 354 for outraging the modesty of a woman and 332 for voluntarily causing hurt.

The medical fraternity was in an uproar after hearing about the incident. Demanding immediate action against the accused, the PG doctors protested in front of the hospital boycotting the outpatient and inpatient duties on Friday. After knowing that the police had taken the side of the accused justifying his action to be not a deliberate move to assault the doctor but instead an extreme agony, the PG doctors also held a protest outside the police station demanding immediate arrest of the accused.

Raising their voice against the assault of the neurosurgeon, Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) had demanded strict action against the accused and supported the doctors in their strike. They said that since the assault on doctors is on the rise, laws should be enforced to safeguard medical professionals from such attacks.

Pointing out the silence of the officials, the association alleged that the concerned officials may be supporting the attack against the doctor by taking the side of the accused. Both the association had earlier warned that if the arrest was delayed, they would join the PG doctors' strike.

When IMA state president Sulphi N visited the doctor in the hospital, she said "I am reconsidering my decision to become a neurosurgeon and even the career of a doctor."

Dr Ruwise E A, Thiruvananthapuram unit president of Kerala Medical Post Graduate Association told TNIE, "It is unnerving that such attacks happen in medical colleges which are supposed to be a secure location. What will happen to us if we go to peripheral hospitals for practice? The government should have arrested the culprit immediately and sent a message to the public that such attacks are not tolerated."

"We cannot leave the students alone on this issue. It was an assault on a woman who was doing her duty. If it was a senior doctor who received such a kick on the lower abdomen he or she would not have survived the attack," said Dr Nirmal Bhaskar, state president of Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA).

Dr Althaf A, secretary of IMA, Thiruvananthapuram branch said "The government health system has become an easy target nowadays. Such attacks do not happen in private hospitals where bystanders pay the remaining hospital bills without uttering a word of protest even after the patient could not be rescued."

Meanwhile, the accused surrendered himself to the police and was taken to the Thiruvananthapuram Additional Sessions Court-VI. The court granted his anticipatory bail and ordered his release on executing the bond for a sum of ₹50,000 together with two solvent sureties for the amount after recording his arrest.

The court further directed him to appear before the Medical College Police Station SHO by 5 pm on Tuesday. Therefore, the accused appeared before the investigating officer and was released after interrogation. While he has been ordered to report for further questioning on Tuesday as per the TH report, official sources said there was no decision on recording his arrest yet. 

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