Resident Doctor Safdarjung Hospital gets brutally attacked by pet dog, FIR registered against owner

Noida: In a terrifying incident, a female senior resident doctor of Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi was brutally attacked by a golden retriever in Garden Glory Society in Sector 46 in the city causing serious damage to her face.

In response to the attack, the doctor lodged a formal complaint against the dog's owner at the police station and the owner has been booked following the registration of FIR. In addition, she also initiated a Medico-legal case to seek reimbursement for the treatment costs that she personally paid for.

The 29-year-old doctor suffered severe injuries on her chin and had to undergo four stitches for a ‘Category 3’ bite as the dog’s teeth had pierced through her skin. The attack has left the doctor with a scar on her face which she alleged prevented her from stepping outside the house due to gaining attention from passersby. 

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What came as unfortunate is that the doctor, who has plans to get married next year, is worried about the potential need for debridement surgery if the wound does not heal properly with the stitches.

Debridement is a procedure for treating a wound in the skin. It involves thoroughly cleaning the wound and removing all hyperkeratotic (thickened skin or callus), infected, and nonviable (necrotic or dead) tissue, foreign debris, and residual material from dressings. The doctor alleged that the cost may rise top Rs 2 lakh including other expenses.

The incident took place after she came to visit her relatives in the Noida society to celebrate Chhath with them. While returning to their flat after performing a ritual at the society's swimming pool on November 20 around 7 am, the doctor saw the owner and the dog were on a walk. 

"A man was walking his dog near me. When I reached an intersection, the dog jumped on me and started biting me in the face. I tried to fight it off, but couldn't," the doctor told TOI.

Speaking to Republic about the incident, the doctor said "Later, the dog's owner neither apologized to me nor helped me after the bleeding started happening. I quickly came out of the society and came to Delhi Hospital and got the vaccination. I have stitches on my face which I got removed yesterday. Now there is a severe mark on my face. It’s a category 3 attack which left a lacerated wound which resulted in the skin being removed,” said the woman doctor. 

Due to the rising number of dog attacks in communities, the Noida Authority has enforced a rule that requires pets to wear muzzles when taken out for walks. However, the doctor claimed that the dog was not wearing a muzzle.

She also alleged that the dog owner not only failed to apologize to her but also avoided her when she asked him to take responsibility for the medical treatment. She mentioned in her statement that Rs 30,000 has been spent on getting vaccinations and immediate treatment.

Following the incident, an FIR was registered on November 25 by the police under sections 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animals), 338 (whoever causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

"Although he has been booked, I want him to apologise to me and reimburse the cost of my medical treatment. That is the least he can do," said the doctor

“It was an unprovoked bite. The treatment cost may go up to 2 lakh including surgery and immunisation expenses. The dog owner and his family members who claimed to be retired from the services turned up at my home. The dog owner’s family misled me from day one about my identity. When I shared the expenses of my treatment, they stopped replying. 

This brutal attack is going to leave a scar and why should I live with a scar due to someone else’s mistake? It’s very hurtful to live with a scar and I have stopped going out as everybody stares at me. A Medico-legal case has been initiated from my end and I only expect the owners to own up to the cost of heavy treatments that I have been spending from my own pocket after the dog bit me,” said the victim in a conversation with Republic.

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