Sola Civil Hospital paediatric resident doctor suspended after viral video controversy

The patient’s family claimed that the argument began when the doctor objected to the thermometer being placed over the child’s T-shirt instead of under it. However, hospital authorities said the doctor lost her temper after being repeatedly insulted by the family.

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In the viral video,  the doctor, dressed in a yellow kurta and wearing a stethoscope, can be seen arguing with the child’s uncle, who had brought his niece for treatment. The situation escalated when the man began recording the conversation on his phone.

Clearly upset, the doctor demanded that he stop filming. “Put your mobile down,” she is heard saying. When he refused, she tried to grab his phone. A nearby security guard did not intervene immediately. The doctor then refused to treat the child, accusing the man of misbehaving with her, saying, “I will not listen to anyone because you are misbehaving with me.”

The video sparked mixed reactions online. Some people supported the doctor, saying resident doctors work long hours under stress and can sometimes lose their patience. Others sided with the patient’s family, demanding the doctor’s suspension, arrest, and cancellation of her medical licence.

Taking note of the viral video, the Health Minister Praful Pansheriya suspended the doctor and ordered an immediate inquiry. The doctor has been transferred to the hospital research wing until the investigation is completed. The minister assured that strict action will be taken against her if found responsible for such misconduct. 

As per TNIE news report, the incident took place around 9 pm on Sunday when the man brought his niece, suffering from fever and breathing difficulties, to the paediatric ward of the state-run hospital. According to him, no doctor was present at first. When the resident doctor arrived, she objected to the thermometer being placed over the child’s T-shirt.

He said, “My brother said that someone from the hospital staff placed it that way. The doctor raised her voice and said, ‘It’s your daughter, don’t you know how to place it? When I asked the doctor to speak softly, she said This is how her voice is. When I started recording the incident, she hit my phone, injuring my hand and my brother’s stomach. Later, she said, ‘You have misbehaved with me, so I won’t treat you. Go wherever you want, even to the CM."

He added that he only started recording after the doctor shouted at them. The situation got worse when the doctor refused to treat the child.

However, the hospital claimed that the doctor got frustrated after being repeatedly insulted by the patient’s family. According to them, the relatives allegedly said that she was a government servant and should do as they say.

Dr Deepika Singhal, Medical Superintendent of Sola Civil Hospital, "The doctor has claimed she was harassed first by the family. She has been moved to the research wing pending inquiry. The resident is currently under psychiatric care and may have reacted under stress.

Dr Nehal Patel, head of the Paediatrics Department at Sola Civil, told Ahmedabad Mirror, “We have initiated an internal inquiry to verify both sides of the incident. A three-member inquiry committee has been formed to review CCTV footage and verify both sides’ accounts. The committee will be headed by Dr Singhal. 

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