Mob attacks paediatrician, chief intensivist, staff at Nagpur Hospital after death of 3-year-old girl

Nagpur: Tension gripped a private hospital in Nagpur on Thursday after a mob allegedly stormed the intensive care unit (ICU), assaulted an on-duty paediatrician, the chief intensivist, the medical superintendent, and other hospital staff, and damaged equipment following the death of a three-year-old girl. 

The incident took place on Thursday when the child was brought to the hospital with a palpable pulse. According to the hospital, doctors had suspected dengue and advised admission a day earlier. However, her relatives allegedly took her home and returned to the hospital after her condition deteriorated.

The girl later died, following which her family allegedly accused the hospital of failing to provide appropriate treatment. 

Soon after the death was communicated, her relatives allegedly entered the restricted ICU area and attacked the hospital staff.

A doctor who witnessed the incident told TOI, “The moment the doctor informed relatives about the girl’s death, they barged into the ICU, a restricted area, and began thrashing the doctors. Even women relatives kicked, abused and assaulted medical personnel.” 

The alleged violence left a senior paediatrician, the hospital’s chief intensivist, medical administrators, paramedics and other staff members injured. ICU monitors were reportedly smashed, while files and case papers were thrown around, disrupting the critical care unit and frightening other patients.

The girl’s parents reportedly took her body from the hospital without completing the post-mortem formalities.

Relatives later reached the police station at night demanding a death certificate and case papers and told cops they could bring the body back to the hospital. The hospital administration, however, cited the possibility of tampering with the body in the absence of a post-mortem examination and refused to issue a death certificate, reports TOI. 

The hospital’s management said it had digital records of the child’s treatment and that she had been under the care of the same doctor for several years.

A complaint was lodged at Dhantoli police station along with the CCTV footage of the incident. Hospital directors and other doctors remained at the police station for several hours, demanding that an FIR be registered and action be taken against those involved. Police said they were proceeding with registration of the case.

A senior paediatrician associated with the hospital said the attack had left doctors concerned about their safety. 

“It is ridiculous. In such circumstances, doctors will live in fear of being attacked by violent relatives. Strict action should be taken against such culprits,” the doctor said.

The incident has renewed concerns over violence against healthcare workers, particularly when a patient dies or suffers an adverse outcome. The allegations over the child’s treatment and the circumstances of her death remain to be examined separately from the alleged assault on hospital staff.