Orthopedician booked after female patient attendant alleges sexual harassment

Tirunelveli: An orthopedician has been booked after a female attendant filed a sexual harassment complaint against the latter in Thisayanvilai, alleging that he demanded sexual favours from her in exchange for treating her father while he was in an intoxicated state.

According to the complainant's statement, the doctor sexually harassed her in his chamber at a private hospital where she took her father for a checkup. She alleged that the doctor approached her in an appropriate manner in his chamber on the pretext of examining her father.

In response to the complaint, an FIR has registered against the accused under various relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. No arrest has been made so far and further probe into the case is underway.

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The alleged incident took place on October 26 when the woman took her father to the hospital for a checkup at around 7.15 p.m where the doctor asked them to wait. When the woman noticed that it was getting late, she went to the doctor’s room and requested him to treat her father.

"He brought me and my father to another room. He made my father lie on a bed and approached me and said he would treat my father in exchange for sexual favours. He forced me to sit beside him and locked the door. Panicked by this, I rushed out of the room," said the woman in her complaint.

Following this, the woman's father confronted the doctor but was chased away from the room by the doctor. Later, the nursing staff at the reception apologized to him and explained that the doctor's actions were due to his intoxication.

The next day, the father and his daughter approached the Thisayanvilai police station and filed a complaint against the doctor. However, the police refused to register an FIR in connection with the case as alleged by the father.

Speaking to TNIE, the father said "My daughter and I had to wait at the station from 10 am to 7 pm. The police registered a CSR (community service register) based on her complaint but refused to file an FIR. Some police personnel said that an FIR had been registered, but we were denied a copy. If the police do not arrest the doctor, we will stage a protest."

"The police should take action against him to ensure the safety of other women," said the woman.

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