mob lynching of 2 Arunachal doctors: medical fraternity up in arms

The move received support from the Indian Medical Association Arunachal State branch (IMA-AP), Arunachal Pradesh Doctors Association (APDA), Indian Dental Association Arunachal State branch (IDA-AP), and the faculty members of Tomo Riba Institute Of Health And Medical Sciences (TRIHMS).

The incident took place on 3rd May. As per a recent media report by North East Now, one of the woman patients who was tested COVID positive was undergoing treatment in the hospital. However, she eventually succumbed to the infection. After receiving the news, a group of attendants of the patient alleged medical negligence on the hospital and resorted to violence.

The angry attendants allegedly attacked two of the doctors and assaulted them and also vandalized the hospital damaging its properties. The Samaritan Hormin Hospital also issued a statement and clarified that the patient's family did not accept any explanation from the hospital authorities regarding the death of the female patient and rather, "started vandalizing the hospital property and manhandled the doctors and staff of the hospital."

IMA AP along with many other medical associations expressed "deep anguish and strong resentment over the life-threatening mob attack" on the hospital staff.

"All the Doctors of Itanagar Capital Complex would go for two days (Friday and Saturday) shut down of routine works excluding Emergency and COVID-19 duties from 6 am of 7th May till 6 pm 8th May 2021 as a mark of protest against the attempt of mob lynching & vandalism," the IMA-AP said.

The Northeast Today reports that commenting on the incident, the TRIHMS Faculty Association stated that it "genuinely condoles the death of the patient, but at the same time unequivocally condemns the attempted lynching of the two doctors, and the sheer wanton vandalism of the Hospital."

Meanwhile, taking suo-moto cognizance of the death of the patient and the allegations that she died due to medical negligence of the hospital, the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) has demanded a thorough investigation of the case.

While extending condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased, the commission approached the Itanagar capital region superintendent of police and requested him to investigate the case in a fair and unbiased manner, so that the authenticity of the allegations brought against the hospital by the family of the deceased can be proved, reports the daily.

APSCW has also requested the public to extend cooperation in the police probe and not to take matters into their own hands by disregarding the law.