Violence yet again: 3rd year DM Nephrology resident doctor faces mob attack at NIMS Hyderabad

Hyderabad: In yet another case of violence against doctors, a final year resident doctor of the nephrology department at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad became a subject of alleged assault and harassment by a relative over the death of their 62-year-old kin on Thursday.

The doctor was subject to violence when he intervened and tried to stop the relatives of the deceased patient from hurting a female resident doctor. When the security personnel of the hospital were informed about the attack, they arrived 20 minutes later and by the time they had arrived, the doctors were already assaulted.

The incident took place after a 62-year-old patient who was admitted to the NIMS in critical condition in the early hours of Thursday succumbed to death due to due to Emphysematous pyelonephritis and sepsis in the morning of the same day. Although the doctors tried their best, the patient did not survive. 

Also read- TN: Kin Assaults House Surgeon Of Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital After Patient's Death

When the relatives heard about the unfortunate incident, they started abusing women doctors and nurses. Following this, a mob of 10 to 12 attendants barged into the Acute Respiratory Care Unit (ARCU) and tried to attack a female senior resident. When her senior intervened and tried to calm them down and explained the situation to the attendants, one of them hit the senior on the shoulder, held his neck and tried to throttle him. The unruly attendants even stopped doctors from performing CPR on another patient. 

Later, the NIMS security were informed but they were locked and barred by the mob along with his colleagues. They managed to wriggle out after 20 minutes and reached the ICU. Finally, he was rescued from the clutches of the mob. 

It came to light that the patient was being treated somewhere else for the last four days. She was suffering from diabetes and hypertension and had had coronary artery bypass surgery five years ago. She was admitted with a kidney issue and was on dialysis. Due to the infection being spread to her entire body, the doctor could not save her despite her best efforts. 

Although the doctors informed the attendants of the patient about her critical condition before admitting her to the hospital, the mob after hearing her death news assaulted the doctors at the hospital. According to the statements of the doctors, they were assaulted despite notifying their relatives of the danger. 

"These heinous acts and uncivilised people are a threat to society. We work day and night to treat and save patients. We get assaults and harassment in return from society," said the doctor who was assaulted.

Violence against doctors has become a common occurrence in the country and even though the government promises to take action and provide them with security, such a move has always been a talk. 

Medical Dialogues team had recently reported that a female house surgeon Dr Vandana Das was brutally stabbed to death with scissors at a government hospital in Kerala's Kollam district allegedly by a prisoner who was brought to the facility for a medical examination by the Police. Five others, including the policeman, sustained injuries during the incident. The doctor was immediately taken to a private hospital in Kottarakkara, where she died while undergoing treatment. 

In response to this incident, a Division bench of Kerala High Court at a special sitting directed the State Police chief to evolve sufficient and effective protocols regarding the manner in which persons in custody- be that accused or otherwise- are to be presented in hospitals and before medical professionals as part of the criminal justice system or such other.

The NIMS with 150 security personnel deployed at the campus, which also has a police outpost arrived late at the scene to prevent the assault from taking place which made the doctors furious. 

Demanding strong action against those who assaulted the doctor, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of NIMS informed South First, “We strongly condemn and stand against any form of violence or harassment of doctors. The Telangana government should take urgent and stringent action with strict punishment for the culprits. If the Telangana government cannot protect doctors in the future, all senior and junior doctors will go on a protest and will shut down hospitals."

According to the police, further enquiry into the incident and action will be taken only after receiving a formal complaint from the doctors of NIMS.

Condemning the attack and demanding strong action to ensure the safety of doctors in hospitals, the Telangana unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) informed The Indian Express "We request the Telangana government to declare hospitals as protected zones and formulate necessary protocols to protect the doctors and healthcare professionals while treating the patients. We demand a special protection force as per GO MS no 103 for the prevention of violence against doctors and healthcare personnel. We stand with all members for their safety by all means. We reserve the right to oppose the violence in all healthcare establishments."

In support of the doctors who were assaulted, IMA said "We stand in solidarity with medical doctors and all healthcare providers who put their life’s on the line every day to provide essential medical care to those in need."

Also read- Kerala Horror: House Surgeon Stabbed To Death With Scissors By Patient During Treatment, Doctors On Strike