Hundreds of doctors take to streets protesting against SDM Barmer misconduct, Demand suspension, threaten complete Shutdown
Doctors Hold Protest Demanding Action Against SDM Barmer
New Delhi: Protesting against the lack of action by the authorities against the Barmer Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who was recently accused of misbehaving with an on-duty doctor in a government hospital, the medical students, resident doctors, and government doctors in Rajasthan held a protest march in Barmer district.
The doctors and medicos marched from the Government Hospital, Barmer to the Collectorate office and also held a candle march extending support to the on-duty doctor and demanding suspension against the concerned SDM. Further, the doctors are also demanding that an FIR be filed against the SDM for misbehaving with the on-duty doctor in a government hospital.
Further, the associations including the United Doctors' Front, UPCHAR, ARISDA, JMA, and other local associations held a meeting yesterday to discuss the issue and they might hold a complete shutdown of services if no action is taken against the SDM involved in the matter.
Commenting on the matter, the National President of UDF, Dr. Lakshya Mittal told Medical Dialogues, "We have decided to hold a joint press conference tomorrow. We also have a plan to meet the Chief Secretary on Monday. If the Government does not take any action, the doctors in both the government and private sector might be forced to go for a complete shutdown of medical services. However, the emergency services will remain operational."
"I have been in touch with the DM and SP of Barmer district, but their response is not at all satisfactory. The authorities are trying to suppress and settle down the matter. Every time, the doctors become the soft target. However, this time, all the doctors have come under a joint platform and taking a call for a complete shutdown of services, as already 7 days have been passed. If a Gazzetted medical officer is unable to file an FIR, then what justice could we expect? This is a complete failure of the State Government. We are now forced to take a common joint action if till Monday they do not take any action in this regard," he added.
Recently, the video of the SDM ordering the on-duty doctor in the government hospital asking him to tend to one patient, leaving all the other patients in the OPD went viral on social media. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in the video, the SDM could be seen ordering the doctor to attend to a lady patient waiting outside the OPD room and threatening the doctor with police action.
In the video, the SDM could be seen entering the OPD room and asking the doctor to check a woman lying outside on the bed. "Check her first," the SDM could be seen saying.
When the doctor did not come outside, the SDM ordered the doctor to go outside and asked "Idhar Aao, tum Idhar aao! Kya naam hai tumhara? Idhar aa! [come here, you, come here! What's your name? Come here!]"
Then the SDM asked the doctor if the doctor could not hear what he said and threatened by saying "Abhi main police ke hawale kar dunga, ek minute k andar! [I will hand you over to the police, within one minute!]"
He asked the doctor to check the female patient outside, adding that it was his order. "You will check it, now," he said. The doctor could be heard saying that he had already checked that particular patient, but the SDM kept insisting that the doctor check the patient again. He said that the patient's health was not good, further warning the doctor that he was being recorded on camera.
Meanwhile, the All India Medical Students' Association (AIMSA) has also extended its solidarity with the doctor. The association wrote on X, "@official_aimsa stands in solidarity with Dr. Ramswaroop Rawat! We strongly demand the suspension of the SDM involved in the Barmer incident. Strict action must be taken against those who disrespect the doctor on duty and medical fraternity."
"#ARISDA #Kota protested by seeing patients wearing black clothes on the fourth day of the state-wide call. No action was taken against SDM Sedawa, neither was he suspended nor an FIR was registered. If the victim doctor does not get justice, then we will be forced to take steps like going on mass leave," wrote Dr Durga Shanker Saini in an X post.
Also Read: Viral Video: SDM threatens On-duty Doctor during 250+ Patients OPD.
