Patna: Surgeon brutally assaulted after patient death, IMA Bihar goes on state wide strike

Patna: After an alleged case of violence against a medical professional in Bihar, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) went on a one-day statewide strike on November 21.  The strike was to protest an attack on surgeon Dr Rajesh Paswan in Purnia. Paswan is a surgeon in the gynaecology department of Purnia Medical College. On Friday evening, Paswan was assaulted by relatives of a woman patient, who had died during treatment at his private clinic, according to news reports. The doctor was rushed to AIIMS-Patna and discharged on Monday and is currently recovering. 

In response to the assault, the Bihar IMA branch went on a complete and total statewide strike and shut down OPDs and private facilities across Bihar, except emergency services. According to a TOI report, an emergency meeting of the IMA organization has been called in Patna on November 22 to discuss the incident and plan further strategies.

“The Bihar unit of the IMA strongly condemns the murderous attack on Dr Paswan and demands strict legal actions against all the persons involved under the provisions of the Bihar Medical Service Institution and Person Protection Act- 2011,” the IMA said in a statement on Monday. “We also demand an effective check on frequent incidents of attack on the doctors.” 

Also read- Delhi: Hundreds Of Doctors March At Rajghat Demanding Protection Against Violence

A video of the incident also went viral on social media. In the video, Dr Rajesh Paswan is seen in an unconscious state, surrounded by a large group of people. In the video, someone is hearing shouting that the doctor needs to be taken to the hospital. 

Meanwhile, the IMA has called for the administration to take action to prevent such incidents, emphasizing the need for the safety of doctors. The strike was a measure to draw attention to the issue and press for the fulfilment of their demands. In addition, the association also expressed concerns that such incidents make doctors wary when treating serious patients.

The Action Committee of Bihar IMA is expected to hold a meeting today at 8 pm to decide on further actions in response to the incident. The continuation or escalation of protests will depend on whether their demands are met.