Violence Continues: CNMC Junior doctors, Nurses on emergency duty assaulted by patient, kin

Kolkata: Violence against medical professionals continues to escalate by showing no sign of slowing down as a recent incident took place at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMC) where a drunk patient and his relatives allegedly verbally abused, assaulted and threatened junior doctors and nurses in the emergency department over delay in treatment.

Based on the complaint of a senior resident doctor at the hospital's emergency department, the Beniapukur police arrested two persons under relevant sections of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). They were produced before a Sealdah court and remanded in cop custody till Oct 5.

According to the complainant, multiple junior doctors including female doctors were assaulted by the relatives after the patient was brought to the emergency department in a drunken state.

Also read- Kolkata Doctor Death Case: Bengal Doctors hold torch rally ahead of SC hearing

The incident happened at around 4 am on Sunday when a patient along with his family members reached the hospital with an injury on his hand. As per a TOI news report, the patient had suffered severe injuries on his right hand after hitting an aquarium at his home following a family dispute. His hand was bleeding profusely. 

"He was brought to the hospital in a drunken state. His wife and other family members had entered the emergency area despite doctors’ objection,” said a senior officer of Kolkata Police.

Trouble started when the interns at the emergency unit of the hospital prescribed immediate surgery which the patient and his family members did not want to accept and kept on pressurising for other forms of treatment.

Alleging delay in treatment, the drunk patient along with his relatives started allegedly abusing and threatening the on-duty doctors and then assaulted them.  However, the situation was brought under control after the intervention of other doctors, hospital security, some patient relatives and cops. 

“The doctors were verbally abused and then assaulted after they did not want to treat the patient in any other manner,” the officer told PTI. 

Later, on-duty doctors treated the patient by conducting a minor OT to stitch up the patient's cut injury and then filed a complaint at the police station. Acting on the complaint, the police registered an FIR and arrested two persons. The duo is reported to be the patient and his brother. 

Speaking to TOI, the principal of CNMC Subhra Mitra said, "It happened around 4 am. Timely cop reaction brought the situation under control. The doctors even conducted a minor OT to stitch up the patient’s cut injury."

Medical dialogues had previously reported that junior doctors initiated a cease-work protest on Friday night after several of their colleagues were reportedly attacked by the family of a patient who died during treatment at the state-run Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital in Kamarhati. Around a mob of around 20 people allegedly attacked and thrashed junior doctors and nurses. 

Doctors alleged that a group of 20 individuals entered the female ward and attacked interns, house staff and PGTs. The doctors were allegedly abused and manhandled during the incident.

Also read- Mob Attack: Junior doctors, nurses at Sagore Dutta Hospital attacked after patient's death, Colleagues go on strike