Traumatised at Work: On duty RML doctor beaten and attacked for delay in attending to patient

New Delhi: In yet another instance of violence, a junior doctor from Centre-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital recently got attacked by the attendants of a patient at the emergency ward of the hospital.

The patient's kin attacked the doctor after an argument commenced over the entry of the number of attendants in the emergency ward. 

Taking action against the accused, police have already arrested them and the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of the hospital has demanded a quick response team from the administration so that similar instances can be avoided in the future, the president of RDA RML, Dr. Ajay Singh informed Medical Dialogues.

Apart from this, the association has also demanded an increase in the security and the administration has assured to take necessary actions in this regard. 

Meanwhile, the on-duty non-PG JR, Dr. Rohit Yadav sustained minor injuries during the accident. Dr. Yadav said that even though physically he is alright now, the incident has traumatised him emotionally.

Also Read: Doctors continue to face threats, even for the slightest provocation, health personnel are attacked: Kerala HC expresses concern on repeated violence against doctors

Recalling the incident that took place on Tuesday, Dr. Yadav told Medical Dialogues, "I was attending to other patients while the attendants of the concerned patient were abusing my fellow on-duty doctors. It was then that I intervened and I informed the guard that only one attendant is allowed in casualty along with one patient. Soon, the attendants started abusing and attacking me."

When asked about the security guards, he mentioned, "There were only two security guards present at that time and it took them a long time to intervene. Even though I am alright as i sustained minor injuries, emotionally I am pretty shaken up."

"Everyone knows what kind of pressure the doctors need to deal with at the emergency. Still, the doctors try their best to provide the best kind of treatment to all the patients. Despite all this, we get attacked and this is really demotivating," he further mentioned.

Meanwhile, raising this issue of violence to the authorities, the resident doctors' association of the hospital has demanded increase in the security. "We have demanded a quick response team to deal with these kind of situations and the authorities have given their assurance to us in this regard," Dr. Ajay Singh informed Medical Dialogues.

A similar incident of violence against doctors recently took place at Hindu Rao Hospital where a female intern doctor was attacked on May 1, 2023 near the nursing station of surgery casualty. Referring to the incident, RDA mentioned in a letter directed to the administration, "The attack was completely unprovoked, since the said doctor had not even participated in the verbal tussle that was ongoing between the nursing officer and the patient...Her hair were pulled, expletives about her character were hurled, she was slapped, while the security guard who was supposed to protect her, just stood in the corner cowardly seeing everything."

Taking action against this, the hospital's administration has decided to lodge an institutional FIR. Apart from this, the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital has also agreed to the demands of the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) regarding the appointment of Bouncers in casualty and emergency.

Also Read: Violence Yet Again: Female Intern attacked by patient, hair pulled, abuses hurled