Violence yet Again: On-duty doctor abused, slapped by patient, kin at Delhi Hospital

New Delhi: Days after resident doctors resumed work following an 11-day nationwide protest in response to assurances from the central government that security forces at all hospitals will be increased up to 25%, an on-duty junior resident doctor recently became the subject of violence after he was allegedly abused and slapped by a patient and his attendants at Dr Hedgewar Hospital in Karkardooma. 

According to the police, the patient became violent after he felt pain when the doctor was addressing his wounds. This led to an escalation of the situation, during which the doctor was reportedly slapped. Additionally, the patient's son and daughter, who were present at the scene allegedly abused the doctor and other hospital staff. 

The incident took place on Saturday late night at around 1 am when a patient was brought to the hospital by his son and daughter with a forehead injury. He sustained the injury after he fell at his residence due to heavy intoxication. 

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Following this, the junior doctor took the patient to the dressing room to stitch the wound as blood was oozing out of his head. The situation escalated when the doctor finished the first stitch and was working on the second, the patient suddenly pushed him and began hurling abuses. 

The doctor who was assaulted told PTI, "His son, who was outside the room, came in, slapped me and they both started abusing me further."

However, Additional DCP (Shahdara) Rajeev Kumar told TNIE that the accused patient stood up and slapped the doctor while his daughter and son misbehaved with the staff.

Following the assault, the doctor filed a complaint at the police station against the three accused (Father, son, daughter). Later, an FIR was registered under sections 121 (causing hurt to public servant) and 223 (disobeying order promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 3 (Prohibition of violence) and 4 (penalty) of the Delhi Medicare Service Personnel And Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention Of Violence And Damage To Property) Act, 2008.

"We received information about the incident from the Hedgewar Hospital and a team was immediately dispatched to the spot," said Additional DCP Kumar. 

This comes after Hundreds of resident doctors in Delhi resumed work on August 23, following an appeal by the Supreme Court and assurances from the government to address their concerns. The strike, which began on August 12, had severely disrupted non-emergency services, including OPD and diagnostics, at major central and Delhi government hospitals.

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