3rd year MS ENT brutally attacked by patient attendants at GMC Patiala, suffers nose fracture

Patiala: The medical fraternity in Punjab is in an uproar after the brutal attack of an ENT Junior resident doctor at Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala who suffered multiple facial injuries and fractures after being allegedly assaulted by some miscreants.

Following this, one accused has been arrested by the police while the hunt for two others is on.

The incident has prompted the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of Government Rajindra Hospital to take action in hands if the police force fails to arrest the miscreants involved in the attack on the doctor.

Although the police arrested one of the suspects in relation to the case, the association demanded the immediate arrest of all those involved within 24 hours.

A case was registered at the police station against those unidentified miscreants under sections 353 (assaults or uses criminal force to any person being a public servant), 186 (voluntarily obstructs any public servant in the discharge of his public functions), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 148 (rioting), and 149 (offence is committed by any member of an unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code.

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The doctor has been identified as a third-year student of Master of Surgery in ENT. The attack took place while he was on duty in the Emergency wing of the hospital.

On January 29 at 2 am, around seven-eight persons, along with their patients entered ward No. 21, the ENT ward, and started misbehaving with the junior doctors and nurses. After he was called to the site, he witnessed that the patient’s attendants were drunk.

When he tried to intervene, the miscreants allegedly attacked him before he could escape. He had suffered injuries and four fractures, including two nasal bone fractures and a cheekbone fracture.

Later, it was discovered that the patient they brought for examination was already admitted to the hospital and the miscreants who assaulted the doctor were not the patient’s family members.

Soon after, the doctor informed the police which resulted in the arrest of one accused while others are on the run.

Commenting on the incident, Dr Harnam Singh Rekhi, Medical Superintendent, Government Rajindra Hospital told the Tribune, “The matter was discussed with the college principal. We informed the Senior Superintendent of Police as well. An institutional report will also be submitted on the matter,”

Condemning the attack, Dr Darshanjit Singh Walia, president, of the Medical and Dental Teachers’ Association, Punjab said “The doctors held a meeting with Junior Doctors’ Association, Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association, the nursing and Class-IV Employees’ Associations. The attack left the resident doctor with multiple facial fractures. We demand Section 307 (attempt to murder) be added to the FIR.”

While the incident has sparked anger among the medical fraternity, the association has highly criticised the security arrangements at the hospital and the lack of facilities to prove how the doctor was attacked. To this, the PCMS Association submitted a memorandum to the college and hospital administration seeking answers for the lack of responsibilities and security arrangements.

Similarly, Union of Resident Doctors of Punjab (URDP) submitted a letter addressing the Medical Superintendent Dr Harnam Singh Rekhi on January 30 demanding the administration to file an institutional FIR against the culprits and pursue their arrest at the earliest. Moreover, URDP also asked the institution to ensure adequate security in all wards.

Mentioning that dire consequences will be inflicted if the administration fails to address the demands, the URDP said "We will be forced to stall work impacting patient care. We sincerely hope that these genuine demands will be immediately met to install confidence in healthcare professionals."

Coming in support, Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) tweeted the letter saying "APPALLING! Female resident doctor and nursing staff attacked at GMC Patiala & another JR3 suffered a nasal bone fracture. Patient attendants or monsters? When’ll MoHFW pay heed to the demand of #DoctorsProtectionAct!"

The doctor's decision to file a case instead of the hospital administration has raised questions about the administration’s humane nature and in view of this, Harinder Singh Gill, president, of PCMS Association and vice-president of the association Dr Sumeet Singh said, “The case should have been registered by the institution. The hospital lacks adequate security arrangements. There is a lack of CCTV cameras on the premises. The hospital also lacks enough security guards. The entry and exit points should be manned.”

In response, Medical Superintendent Dr Harnam Singh Rekhi said “200 CCTV cameras are currently functional on the premises while the department is in process of installing 200 more. We presently have 75 security guards and have written to the Health Department to add 140 more employees.”

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