Medical College Superintendent beaten up, Health department Seeks action
Dhenkanal: In a series of cases of manhandling front line healthcare workers, two doctors including a Superintendent of Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada were roughed up and attacked following the death of patients.
Amid the ongoing crisis, reports of violence against doctors in the state have been immediately taken up by the Health and Family Welfare Department, which has now sought stern action against the accused in the case of manhandling of the doctor attached to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital.
As per a recent media account in Orissapost, the case related to the Superintendent of Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada, who was manhandled by the relatives of a 17-year-old deceased girl.
The patient's relatives alleged that the girl died in the hospital due to medical negligence as blood transfusion could not take place when it was required. However, the doctors clarified that the patient was suffering from fever and blood was to be transfused after recovery.
The irate family of the deceased protested by placing the dead body in front of the main gate and later, locked the gate creating inconvenience for patients and attendants. In the face-off that followed, the doctor was trying to reconcile the conflict with the deceased's family when he was shoved and assaulted on the accusations of the death of the minor.
Additional sub-collector Prakash Chandra Behera and Sadar SDPO KK Hariprasad attempted to lessen the gravity of the situation and announced financial assistance of Rs 10,000 from the district Red-Cross fund along with a promise to take action against the concerned doctors. Further, policemen were deployed in the hospital to guard against any development.
Acting on the incident, the Chief Secretary (Health) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra has now written a letter to Mayurbhanj SP Parmar Smit Parashottamdas seeking a speedy investigation in this case and provide round clock security cover to all employees in the PRM Medical College and Hospital.
Expressing anguish over the assault of the Superintendent, PRMC, Baripada, a team of senior doctors has called on the State Director General of Police and demanded stringent action against the assaulters.
Also Read: Odisha: Doctor At Puri District Hospital Allegedly Assaulted By Relatives Of A Patient
As per a recent report by Tathya, the DGP, while informing the doctors' delegation that a person has already been arrested in this connection, assured them of deterrent action against the culprits. He also assured them that both preventive and punitive measures will be strengthened by police relating to such incidents.
Meanwhile, the other case related to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), where an assistant surgeon was attacked over the death of a patient. Condemning the attack, an indefinite strike has been launched by the doctors and other staff members.
The surgeon was reportedly on emergency duty at the OPD when he declared the patient brought dead after a thorough examination. On hearing this, the family of the patient abused and assaulted the doctor and staff as well as vandalized the OPD of the hospital.
An FIR was launched against the assaulters at Dhenkanal Town Police Station.
Meanwhile, the services in the hospital were disrupted due to the cessation of work by the staff and doctors. The Secretary of Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) Dhenkanal, Dr Pradyot Behera told Orissa Post that they would not avoid any emergency patients but the doctors would continue to cease work till the accused face repercussions on their actions.
He added that there has been regular demand for the establishment of a police outpost on the hospital premises of the DHH. Besides, the matter should be taken seriously in accordance with the Epidemic Diseases Act.
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