Kolkata: SSKM Junior doctors attacked, hospital vandalised after patient's death

Kolkata: The Junior doctors at the state-run SSKM Medical College and Hospital were assaulted and the hospital was vandalised allegedly by the family of a man who died while undergoing treatment at the trauma facility.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee condemned an attack on junior doctors of SSKM Hospital and said the trauma care centre that was vandalized was built with a lot of effort and money.

The incident took place on Monday when Mohammed Irfan, a resident of Chuchura in Hooghly district, was admitted to the multi-speciality hospital's trauma care centre on Sunday evening with severe injuries.

After Irfan succumbed to the injuries, his family members started protesting, alleging that he died due to the negligence of the hospital authorities. Soon, the situation escalated and they attacked some junior doctors who were present there, a police officer said.

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"Two junior doctors were injured in the assault. The hospital was vandalised, and an X-ray machine and few other medical equipment were damaged," said a police officer.

A massive police team from the Bhowanipore police station reached the spot and brought the situation under control, he added.

A case had been registered with Bhowanipore police station under the IPC sections related to rioting and deterring public servants from discharge of duty; the West Bengal Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Preventions of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2009; Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984; and Section 9 of the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1972 and the police have arrested five accused.

Addressing the severity of the situation, CM Mamata Banerjee apologized to the hospital superintendent on behalf of the family members and guaranteed the security of the doctors to prevent such attacks ahead.

"I called up the superintendent and apologized to the doctors concerned. There were only two junior doctors at the time of the incident. I have got this trauma centre in place after spending so much money. They manhandled and heckled junior doctors. Senior doctors were not there," said Banerjee.

Understanding the side of the family members, she said it is evident when someone young dies in a family, it becomes hard for the parents to control their sorrow which in turn results in such attacks. However, such assault against doctors should not be done and is intolerable since they try their best to cure a patient.

"We regularly have senior doctors on night duty at SSKM hospital. But from today we have decided to keep one faculty doctor on the night roster as well," a hospital official said.

In spite of the hospital having a permanent police post, the CM questioned why the police arrived only after being informed about the vandalism. She criticized the police for arriving late and not taking action on time. 

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