Violence at Gangaram Hospital: Patient attempts to kill senior neurosurgeon, attacks with knife
New Delhi: In yet another incident of violence against doctors, a senior neurosurgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in central Delhi New Rajinder Nagar was attacked with a sharp knife by an angry patient, who allegedly slipped into depression after being treated by the doctor for spinal cord tumour.
Legal action was initiated against the patient, who attempted to kill the surgeon, under the Prevention of Violence against Doctors and The Medical Professionals and Medical Institution Bill, 2018.
Sanjay Kumar Sain, deputy commissioner of police (central) confirmed that the 21-year old patient from Bihar, Raj Kumar who was being treated by the doctor since 2021 for spinal cord tumour was booked by the police based on a complaint filed by the surgeon, Dr Satnam Singh Chhabra, who sustained injuries on his thumb during the assault.
The incident took place on July 25 at around 4:00 PM in the facility. The doctor was in OPD room number F 37 when the patient came to see him for his spinal cord tumour. He was earlier operated by the surgeon for the same problem in 2021 and there was a recurrence of tumour. The doctor told him that he need reoperation. However, the patient said that he has no money. Therefore, the doctor advised him to get admitted in free ward and he would perform surgery for free.
The patient went downstairs after asking for refund of his consultation fee that he had paid. Soon, he came back after some time to the OPD around 3:40 PM and informed the surgeon that the person concerned was not making free OPD card. Addressing the issue, the doctor told him to visit the next day at 9:00 AM and assured that he would get the card made.
However, the patient suddenly took out a knife and put it on the doctor's neck to kill him. The medical practitioner pushed his (the attacker's) hand away with his right hand and shouted for help. A timely intervention by the hospital’s security personnel prevented any serious injury to the doctor. Rajkumar was then overpowered by the hospital staff, who also informed the police.
However, while trying to protect himself, the doctor got a cut on his right thumb with the knife that the patient held.
The police team rushed to the hospital and took Rajkumar into custody. On the complaint of the doctor, legal action was initiated against the patient under the Prevention of Violence against Doctors and The Medical Professionals and Medical Institution Bill, 2018. Hospital sources told The Indian Express that Rajkumar had undergone surgery under Dr Chhabra in 2021 and had slipped into depression after that.
