AMU JN Medical College doctors boycott work after students altercation with Chief Medical Officer

Aligarh: Medical services at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) faced a major setback as the doctors went on a one-day strike following an altercation between the CMO and some AMU students. 

The doctors boycotted work demanding a formal apology from the medicos who allegedly misbehaved with the Chief Medical Officer. However, the doctors have resumed work after a conversation with the students who have apologized for their behaviour.

Commenting on the situation, Dr. Laxman Prakash, one of the members of IMA students' wing UP told Medical Dialogues, "There was a dispute between the students and the CMO at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College of Aligarh Muslim University in the CMO's office a few days ago. During this, there was a lot of uproar and the students entered into an altercation and according to one of the eyewitnesses, they pushed the CMO. The doctors went on a one-and-a-half-day strike demanding an apology from the students. The students and their relatives have apologized, after which the doctors have called off the strike."

Some students brought one of their relatives for treatment of eyes. However, there was no ophthalmologist available. The doctors found that the patients could have been treated in OPD also instead of emergency. The CMO and CAO were sitting in the CMO office near the emergency of JN Medical College. That's when three-four students in their third year came there to show any of their relative about eye problems.

In an emergency, the doctors asked them to come after six hours as the eye specialist was not present. The students got angry and insisted on calling an eye specialist. Meanwhile, the students reached the CMO's office and entered into a verbal conflict with him. The matter caught fire in a matter of words. The agitated students allegedly started verbally abusing the doctors and the CMO.

A large number of students and medical staff reached there. Both the CMO and the students started accusing each other of assault and indecency. All the AMU security personnel deployed in security also came there and intervened before the situation got out of hand completely. Both sides have accused each other of indecently assaulting and misbehaving. Both sides have lodged complaints in the Proctor's office. An investigation has started regarding this.

Here, on the news of the uproar, the proctorial team also reached and negotiated with both sides to pacify the matter. Late at night, a written complaint has been lodged in the Proctor's office by Professor Zaid from one side and a student of BA III from the other side, accusing each other.

On the other hand, in protest against the incident, the doctors stopped the emergency service and went on strike. Due to this, the patients and the attendants had to face a lot of problems. However, till late in the night, the AMU authorities were trying to resolve the dispute and persuade the doctors.  In protest against the indecency and assault with the CMO, the members of the JA Medical College, doctors stalled the emergency service demanding action and registration of case against the students who were allegedly involved in the incident.

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"The provision of providing immediate emergency services on a priority basis is restricted to AMU students and not their relatives. The doctors thought that the patient could be treated in OPD and asked the students to wait. However, they misbehaved with the CMO demanding the immediate presence of the ophthalmologist who was in OT at that time. This behaviour against the doctors should not be endured. However, there was a negotiation and as far as I know the students have apologized after which the doctors called off the strike", added Dr. Laxman.