Viral video of doctors sleeping on ICU beds at Ahmedabad hospital triggers probe, sparks debate on 48-hour shifts

Ahmedabad: Controversy has erupted at the LG Hospital in Maninagar after a video went viral on social media reportedly showing resident doctors from the orthopaedics department of the hospital sleeping on ICU beds.

After the video surfaced online, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) issued a notice to the Head of the Department seeking an explanation. The hospital superintendent has been asked to investigate the matter.

The video has triggered a debate with questions raised on how doctors could sleep on ICU beds during duty hours, while the medical community came out in support of the resident doctors, saying that doctors are human and need rest, especially after working long shifts of up to 48 hours.

According to a news report by Gujarat Samachar, the incident reportedly took place on Saturday night after an orthopaedic surgery was performed at the hospital. Following the operation, the resident doctors allegedly went to rest inside the ICU.

Sources told The Daily that explanations have been sought from both the Head of the Department and the doctors involved.

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The issue became more controversial because the hospital’s in-charge medical superintendent had earlier told the media that ICU beds are never vacant due to the continuous inflow of patients requiring critical care.

TOI reported that due to a shortage of beds at VS Hospital, which is also managed by AMC, many patients are referred to LG Hospital, where ICU beds are often fully occupied. As a result, some patients are advised to seek admission at other hospitals.

Responding to the incident, hospital committee chairman Bharat Kakadiya said, "The medical superintendent has been asked to clarify which resident doctors were sleeping in the ICU during duty hours. If a satisfactory explanation is not received, appropriate action will be taken."

Meanwhile, several doctors defended the residents on social media platform X. Re-sharing the video, one doctor wrote, "Doctors are humans too. During 48-hour duty shifts, if patients are stable and beds are unoccupied, taking short rest breaks is not negligence , it’s necessity."

Reacting to the matter, several doctors came in support the resident doctors. One doctor user said, "During my entire residency...I had to eat, rest and sleep on either patient beds or stretchers inside the ICU , as there was no DDR for residents since our hod believed residents r not supposed to rest , even during continuous 36 or 42 hr shifts when we couldn't go to our hstls."

Another doctor user said, "Investigation must be on why duty rooms are not provided by the administration to duty doctor's." Another user said, "This shows lack of proper room for Doctors to rest during 48 hours shift, instead 48 hours shift model should be reformed."

A doctor said, "Doctors shall stop sacrificing their life through excessive duty. This doctor should have gone back to his home or hostel after 8 hours of duty, instead of continuing inhuman duty."

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