Viral Video: SDM threatens On-duty Doctor during 250+ Patients OPD

New Delhi: Doctors have demanded action against the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Barmer for allegedly misbehaving with the on-duty doctor in a government hospital asking him to tend to one patient, leaving all the other patients in the OPD.

The video of the SDM ordering the doctor to attend to a lady patient waiting outside the OPD room and threatening the doctor with police action has been circulating on social media platforms.

In the video, the SDM could be seen entering the OPD room and asking the doctor to check a woman lying outside on the bed. "Check her first," the SDM could be seen saying.

When the doctor did not come outside, the SDM ordered the doctor to go outside and asked "Idhar Aao, tum Idhar aao! Kya naam hai tumhara? Idhar aa! [come here, you, come here! What's your name? Come here!]"

Then the SDM asked the doctor if the doctor could not hear what he said and threatened by saying "Abhi main police ke hawale kar dunga, ek minute k andar! [I will hand you over to the police, within one minute!]"

He asked the doctor to check the female patient outside, adding that it was his order. "You will check it, now," he said. The doctor could be heard saying that he had already checked that particular patient, but the SDM kept insisting that the doctor check the patient again. He said that the patient's health was not good, further warning the doctor that he was being recorded on camera.

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The doctor on the other hand kept arguing that the patient could not recover within a minute and also added that more than a hundred patients were waiting in the OPD. 

Soon, the video of the incident circulated on the social media platforms. Sharing the video on X (formerly Twitter), the National President of United Doctors' Front (UDF), Dr. Lakshya Mittal wrote, "Sedwa, Barmer, Rajasthan — SDM (Badrinarayan)'s grossly unjust conduct! The doctor's job in a government hospital is to see all the patients, not to obey the illegal order of standing near one patient! By publicly behaving rudely with a doctor who is treating more than 250 OPD patients, the SDM has put the safety of health workers at risk."

On behalf of UDF, Dr Mittal demanded that a case should be filed against the concerned SDM for constructing government work, adding that the Rajasthan government should take strict disciplinary action against the officer.

Protesting against the incident, UDF has given a call for a Black Ribbon demonstration across Rajasthan on 3 February 2025. "A Black Ribbon demonstration will be organized across Rajasthan on 3 February 2025 under the leadership of Dr. Lakshya Mittal, National President of United Doctors Front (UDF). This protest is being done against the misbehaviour and threats made to the medical officer by the SDM of Sevda, Barmer. UDF has appealed to all resident doctors, medical officers and medical students across the state to register their protest by wearing a black ribbon during duty on this day and unite in support of the victim doctor," the association mentioned in a release yesterday.

Dr. Lakshya Mittal said, "Doctors work day and night in the service of society, this type of misbehaviour with them is absolutely unacceptable. We strongly condemn this incident and demand strict action against the guilty SDM. This movement is necessary for the dignity and safety of doctors."

UDF has demanded immediate action from the state government in this matter and has made it clear that there will be no compromise on the safety and respect of doctors.

The incident was also criticised by Dr Sarvesh Pandey, the General Secretary of the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA). Reacting to the incident, he wrote in an X post, "Wow, SDM ji, you are very active with the camera and now you are telling the doctor to see the patient. Such #camera-lovers# should be suspended immediately. It is a crime to threaten the on-duty doctor with police."

Expressing solidarity with the doctor, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has also demanded action against the concerned SDM. In this regard, the association has urged the Chief Minister of Rajasthan to intervene.

"See how bullying is being shown by a power-drunk #SDM sahab! This #SDM sahab is from Sedhwa tehsil of Barmer district and in order to garner cheap #TRP , he misbehaved with an #OnDuty Doctor and threatened him unnecessarily in front of patients! @BhajanlalBjpyes take appropriate action," the association wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

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