PGIMER: Woman Doctor Allegedly Slaps Patient, Panel to Investigate

Chandigarh: An atypical episode was witnessed at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh after an HIV infected patient alleged that he was slapped 5 times repeatedly by an irate woman doctor. The hospital authorities, however, were quick to call it a result of a misunderstanding.

This incident allegedly took place at the out-patient department of PGI, Chandigarh in full public view.

According to the media reports, a 45-year-old  HIV patient from Ambala, visited the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre at the hospital to get medicines, along with his wife and two children, who too are HIV-infected and are undergoing treatment at PGIMER.

While briefing the incident to the Tribune, the patient stated that he was standing in a queue along with his wife outside the ART ward and one female doctor, Dr Chauhan was instructing patients to stand in a queue.

“She appeared to be in a bad mood. I thought of making my wife sit on a chair. A person standing behind was blocking the way. I got angry and asked the man if he was out of his mind and couldn’t he give way to a visually impaired woman? I do not know what made the doctor think that I yelled at her and made gestures. She came out of the clinic and began slapping me. Later, she returned and again slapped me in the corridor,” he alleged to the Tribune.

“I was left shocked and came outside and sat quietly. She again came, slapped me several times and grabbed my card from my hand and left,” the patient added.

The patient claimed that people came to his rescue and called the police.

HT reports that the doctor clearly denied the allegations whereas both the ART in-charge and

The doctor while justifying her side claimed that she wasn’t involved in any thrashing of any patient stated,” Neither was I involved in any thrashing of an HIV patient nor am I aware of it. I was visiting a private hospital at the time when the incident was stated to have occurred. I will get the allegations examined.”

However, Centre in-charge Dr Aman Sharma confirmed the incident and told HT that it all began when the doctor thought the man had made a wrong/lewd gesture.

Asserting that the doctor is an exceptionally good doctor, Dr Sharma said, “I do not know what exactly happened. But we have told our staff to call security and never take the law into their hands.”

The institute’s public relations department admitted to the incident. Manju Wadwalkar, PGIMER public relations officer added, “There was a misunderstanding. It was sorted out and no official complaint has been received.”

Meanwhile, when the Tribune contacted the director and asked about the incident, he said, “I am not aware of the incident. I do not think that any such incident could occur. If it has happened, it is unfortunate and inhuman. The matter will be thoroughly investigated. Perhaps it could be an incident of self-defence.”

Both the doctor and the patient have resolved the issue. The patient had also withdrawn the complaint and reached a compromise.

However, the project director of the Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society, Dr Vanita Gupta, formed a committee to probe the incident adds Tribune.