Healthcare professionals cannot be presumed guilty- Doctors' body urges authorities to reconsider SRN hospital medicos suspension

New Delhi: Following the suspension of 20 resident doctors from Surgery and Orthopaedics Units at Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital, Prayagraj, a doctors' body has written to the Uttar Pradesh Government seeking a fair inquiry into the incident and reconsideration of the suspension orders.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the medical fraternity condemned the suspension of the medicos who were on duty when a violent clash broke out between doctors and lawyers over an alleged delay in a patient's treatment on May 20. While the lawyers claimed that they were allegedly assaulted by doctors after an argument broke out, the doctors denied the allegations and stated that a female resident doctor was brutally attacked and the hospital was vandalised by a mob of lawyers.

Following the incident, the medical college authorities formed a three-member inquiry committee and suspended around 20 doctors who were on duty that day.

In response, the doctors expressed anger and disappointment over the fact that the residents were suspended without being given an opportunity to present their side of the story.

In a letter addressed to the Medical Education Minister, Principal Secretary of Medical Education, Director General of Medical Education and Training, District Magistrate of Prayagraj, and the Principal of M.L.N. Medical College, the United Doctors Front (UDF) expressed serious concern over the incident and the subsequent suspension of the doctors.

UDF pointed out that the incident involved a dispute between doctors and attendants/lawyers accompanying a patient, with allegations and counter-allegations from both sides. According to the association, in such circumstances, any disciplinary action before completion of a fair and unbiased inquiry raises serious concerns regarding natural justice and procedural fairness.

"Resident doctors play a crucial role in emergency and trauma care services. They often work prolonged duties extending beyond 24–36 hours in overcrowded, high-pressure, and resource-limited settings while handling critically ill patients. While any misconduct must be investigated strictly, healthcare professionals should not be presumed guilty before the inquiry reaches a lawful conclusion," the association mentioned in the letter.

Following this, the association urged the authorities to reconsider the suspension orders until completion of the inquiry, a fair, transparent, and time-bound investigation, investigation of the role of all the parties involved, adequate security arrangements for healthcare workers and implementation of the 1992 Residency Scheme to protect both patient safety and doctors' physical and mental well-being.

Commenting on this, Dr Babita Sikriwal, National President, UDF, told Medical Dialogues, "Healthcare institutions cannot sustain quality patient care in an environment marked by fear, violence, and victimisation of doctors. The rising incidents of aggression against resident doctors across the country are deeply concerning and demand urgent institutional accountability. UDF firmly believes that every allegation or grievance must be addressed through a fair, transparent, and unbiased process that upholds dignity, safety, and natural justice for all stakeholders involved. In this regard, UDF has sought an impartial inquiry into the SRN Hospital, Prayagraj incident. Safeguarding doctors is essential to safeguarding the integrity and stability of the healthcare system itself."

Also read- SRN hospital violence: Doctors slam suspension of resident medicos, demand rollback, fair probe