IRD Jaipur junior doctor allegedly assaulted during emergency duty, resident doctors suspend routine services, demand FIR

Jaipur: A junior resident doctor at the Institute of Respiratory Diseases (IRD), attached to SMS Medical College, Jaipur, was allegedly assaulted by attendants of a patient while discharging his professional duties in the Emergency Department.

According to the complaint submitted by the affected doctor, the incident occurred during the night shift that began at 8 PM on June 23, while the doctor was on emergency duty when a critically ill patient was brought to the hospital at around 4:15 AM.

The patient was reportedly suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Type-I Respiratory Failure and was on Long-Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT). Despite immediate medical assessment and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as per Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) protocol, doctors were unable to revive her.

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Shortly after the patient's death, a group of attendants and relatives allegedly entered the Emergency Department at around 4:40 AM - 4.50 AM and allegedly physically assaulted the duty doctor, used abusive and life-threatening language, attempted to forcibly drag him outside, created panic within the hospital premises, obstructed emergency medical services, and damaged hospital property, including the Emergency Department gate.

The incident allegedly took place in the presence of other doctors, nursing staff, and hospital attendants. The alleged assault caused injuries to the doctor and created an atmosphere of fear among healthcare workers, patients, and attendants present in the Emergency Department.

In protest, the Junior Residents of IRD Jaipur unanimously suspended all routine clinical services, including OPD and IPD, with immediate effect, except emergency services, which will remain uninterrupted.

Calling the incident a serious attack on a healthcare worker and a medical institution, the Junior Residents said such repeated incidents of violence have created an unsafe working environment for doctors.

In a representation to the Medical Superintendent of IRD, the junior doctors of the institution demanded immediate registration of institutional FIR under the Rajasthan Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008 and strengthening of security measures for doctors and healthcare workers.

"This incident constitutes a serious attack on a Medicare Service Person and a Medicare Service Institution and attracts the provisions of the Rajasthan Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008, in addition to other applicable provisions of law," the doctors said in the representation.

Apart from this, the doctors also demanded the arrest of all accused persons, preservation and review of CCTV footage and inclusion of damage to hospital property in the investigation, establishment of a permanent Police Chowki within the hospital campus and deployment of dedicated RAC/Police personnel in the Emergency Department on a 24×7 basis, strengthening of hospital security infrastructure, including controlled entry points, adequate security staff, surveillance systems, and strict access control, implementation of a strict two-attendant policy in Emergency, ICU, wards, and other patient-care areas. and regular security audits and periodic review meetings involving hospital administration, police authorities, and resident representatives.

The resident doctors warned that if immediate action is not taken on their demands, they would continue their indefinite strike and suspension of routine services.

Sharing the CCTV footage on the social media platform X, Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, Health Activist, said in a post, "Shocked by the brutal assault on Dr *** at IRD SMS Medical College, Jaipur on June 23 night. We demand the immediate arrest of all accused and strict action under relevant laws"

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