Violence at Delhi Hospital: Senior Resident attacked for advising to admit patient, Doctors Demand Protection Act

New Delhi: In yet another incident of violence against doctors, a Senior Resident doctor belonging to Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital (BSAH), Rohini, New Delhi recently got physically assaulted by the attendants of a patient, who was brought to the pediatric casualty of the hospital.

The incident happened when reportedly the Senior Resident advised the attendants of the patient to admit the child, who was facing seizure episode. When the attendants denied to admit the patient, it led to an altercation between the parties, and suddenly the attendants of the patient started abusing and physically assaulting the doctor.

Following repeated representations from the doctors and the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) in the hospital, an institutional FIR has been lodged in the matter. 

Speaking about this, the president of RDA of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Dr. Anirban Bhowmik told Medical Dialogues, "There was delay in lodging the institutional FIR. It finally happened after repeated representations from the RDA when we approached the MS and hospital authorities. There was non-cooperation from the side of the Police as well." 

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The incident of violence took place on the day on July 15, 2023. At around 10:40 PM a three-year-old child was brought to the pediatric casualty with suspected seisure episode. The patient was accompanied by 4-5 people and he was immediately attended and required appropriate medical attention was also given to him.

Meanwhile, SR on duty was counselling the patient attendants about the clinical condition, prognosis, and he advised to admit the patient. However, the attendants of the patient refused to accept the clinical conditions of the child, and started verbally abusing the doctors on duty and also physically assaulted the SR on duty

Writing to the CMO of Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, the doctor requested filing an institutional FIR and mentioned, "I was hit by 4-5 people repeatedly on face and chest, and eyes. They also snatched the stethoscope and damaged it. I would request you to file an institutional FIR against the culprits."

"Such an incident is deeply shameful for the institution and is equivalent to an attack on the entire medical fraternity," the letter further mentioned.

Commenting on the incident, Dr. Bhowmik, the president of RDA of the hospital further mentioned, "Our demand is clear. If anything happens, at that time only institutional FIR should be lodged without any delay and we also want strengthening of the security measures because this happening on daily basis. It is very difficult for us to give services in that situation. We are demanding to increase the security measures in the hospital and to make a friendly environment so that we can provide service."

Sharing the letter of the doctor, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) questioned when the long pending Central Protection Act would be implemented.

"Doctors assaulted, yet again! Horrific incident from BSAH (Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini). Pediatric SR assaulted by relatives. Multiple blows to the chest and face. Delay in Institutional FIR. Accused still roaming free. Central Healthcare Protection Act, WHEN?!!," FORDA mentioned in the Tweet.

Speaking about the matter, Dr. Sarvesh Pandey, the General Secretary of FORDA said, "Doctors working in the hospitals should be given proper security. We also demand that at every emergency place, paramedical staff should be present. It is also high time that the authorities introduce the Central Protection Act."

Dr. Pandey has also shared the video of the incident on his Twitter handle. In the video, two people can be seen beating up the doctor at ward no 42 of the hospital.

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