Doctors attacked with sticks, stones after patient's death: Maharishi Valmiki Hospital Delhi residents on strike

New Delhi: Resident doctors at the Maharshi Valmiki Hospital in Delhi are currently on an indefinite strike over an alleged assault on doctors and medical staff following a patient's death.

The protesting doctors alleged that the patient’s family members attacked the doctors with sticks and stones and tried to forcibly enter the quarters. They reportedly banged on the doors and threw stones at the doctors. The mob then also allegedly abused and threatened female staff members at the hospital.

The strike, which began on Monday at 8 am, according to the hospital’s Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), will continue until the alleged attackers are arrested, an FIR is registered, and adequate security measures are in place for the safety of doctors.

The association has reportedly demanded a high-level impartial judicial inquiry into the incident, immediate arrest of those responsible and registration of an FIR by the institution. It said emergency and elective services would remain suspended until the administration took “strong and immediate action”.

Violence:

As per PTI report, the incident took place at around 12.15 am on September 12 when a patient with a stab wound to his right thigh was brought to the casualty department in a critical condition, accompanied by a police PCR team.

In a press release, the RDA stated that the patient had reportedly suffered heavy blood loss and was hypotensive and disoriented, adding that, despite treatment, he suddenly collapsed while being attended to by doctors.

It alleged that after the death, the policeman accompanying the patient left the casualty while a mob gathered outside. The patient’s family allegedly took away the body and members of the mob attacked doctors with sticks and stones.

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"The doctors and staff had to run for their lives and were chased to the staff quarters. They, including the female staff, were continuously abused and threatened. The mob also tried to forcibly enter the quarters, banged on the doors and threw stones at them," the association said.

The doctors said the attack had left them concerned about their safety at a hospital where they claimed similar incidents had occurred despite assurances from the administration.

"Without adequate security, we are left to ourselves to run and save our lives. This is not the first such incident, and it is the third incident within the last 10 days. Despite an earlier similar incident and assurances by the administration, no effective action has been taken," the RDA said.

The strike has also drawn support from resident doctors at Maulana Azad Medical College and its associated hospitals.

"Resident doctors are an integral part of the public healthcare system and work round the clock under demanding conditions. A safe workplace, adequate manpower and appropriate security arrangements are essential not only for the well-being of doctors but also for ensuring safe and effective patient care," it said.

Doctors to continue strike until demands are met

Issuing an update on their ongoing strike, the doctors’ association said in a press release that although the hospital administration had assured them that security forces would be increased and the hospital gates would be properly enclosed to ensure the safety of resident doctors and healthcare workers, they said that the promised measures have yet to be implemented on the ground.

The resident doctors further said that verbal assurances would not be enough and that they needed concrete action and effective implementation of their demands. They added that they would continue their ongoing strike until their legitimate demands were adequately addressed and the promised security measures were effectively implemented.

"No satisfactory and concrete implementation of the promised security measures has been observed so far. We would like to reiterate that our concerns are genuine and arise from serious incidents of violence, threats, and insecurity faced by doctors and medical staff within the hospital premises. Verbal assurances are not enough. We need concrete action and effective implementation. In view of the continued lack of satisfactory action, the RDA-MVH hereby announces that the ongoing strike will continue until our legitimate demands are adequately addressed and the promised security measures are implemented effectively," the doctors said in the press note.

The association has demanded immediate enhancement of security personnel within the hospital, proper enclosure and strengthening of hospital gates to prevent unauthorized entry and ensure controlled access, effective protection of resident doctors, nursing staff, and all healthcare workers, including female staff, immediate action against those responsible for the recent incident of violence and concrete, time-bound measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

In solidarity with the protesting doctors, Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) in a social media post on X wrote, "Doctors’ Safety Cannot Be Compromised! Despite assurances, security remains inadequate at Maharshi Valmiki Hospital. Car entered through open gates & rammed into Emergency Corridor ramp. We urge @gupta_rekha, @drpankajbjp for immediate action to ensure safety."

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