Cooper Hospital: Female intern kicked by intoxicated patient during examination

Mumbai: Cases of alleged assault against medical professionals have continued to rise at Dr R. N. Cooper Municipal General Hospital in recent months. In a recent such incident, a 23-year-old female intern doctor was allegedly kicked in her chest by an intoxicated patient while she was examining him.

According to reports, before the assault, the intern is reported to have expressed her unwillingness to check the patient’s vitals, saying she felt unsafe and uncomfortable. However, despite her hesitation, she examined the patient on the instructions of the Chief Medical Officer.

The incident took place in the early hours of Wednesday when the patient arrived at the hospital around 4 am in an intoxicated state. The intern, after noticing him, stated that the patient was aggressive from the beginning.

Also read- Violence caught on camera: Cooper Hospital Casualty doctors attacked after patient death

According to information shared by a doctor associated with the interns’ association, the intern doctor was reluctant to examine the patient, but the Chief Medical Officer asked her to proceed with checking his vitals. While she was doing so, the patient allegedly kicked her in the chest twice.

As per the TOI news report, the incident has also led to allegations that the hospital administration tried to discourage her from reporting the assault to the police. It is not clear whether the intern has filed a police complaint.

Meanwhile, Dean Dr Dev Shetty told TOI, "The incident was a minor altercation and that the hospital left it to the woman to decide if she wished to file a police complaint."

Medical Dialogues in November 2025 reported about a violence case at Cooper Hospital where a Casualty Medical Officer, a resident doctor from the Medicine department, and an intern doctor were allegedly assaulted inside the casualty ward while on duty by the relatives of a deceased patient.

According to the doctors, the attackers repeatedly struck the three doctors on the face, chest, and abdomen with extreme force, resulting in injuries. What was shocking was that the doctors claimed hospital security personnel were present during the incident, but did not intervene and remained silent spectators.

Similarly, a few days ago, a mob of around 40-50 people created a ruckus at the hospital and vandalised the hospital property after a 40-year-old woman was declared dead on arrival by doctors. While no doctors or hospital staff were assaulted, the hospital property was damaged with glass panels being shattered and registration counters wrecked. The mob allegedly shouted at the doctors, attempted to assault them, and threatened to have them arrested.

Also read- Chaos at Cooper Hospital: Mob vandalises property after patient declared dead