Srinagar: Doctors manhandled, hospital vandalized after death of critical patient

Srinagar: The doctors at Chest Diseases Hospital have been allegedly thrashed by the kin of the patient, who died from cardiac arrest.

The incident took place in the afternoon when the patient was admitted to the hospital suffering from serious health issues on Tuesday morning and she was shifted to the emergency ward. The patient was on oxygen. The attendants of the patient took her at 2 pm to the washroom without the oxygen. As a result, she suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed in the bathroom due to insufficient oxygen in her body. Her attendant refused to allow doctors to resuscitate her resulting in her death.

The attendant created chaos at the hospital at the loss of the patient by not allowing the doctors to check up on her. The attendant along with DDC members brought security guards with her and brutally thrashed several doctors and also vandalized the hospital property taking the record of the patient.

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One of the doctors named Dr Zaid was allegedly threatened with a gun on his chest by the DDC member. All the doctors were on duty when the incident happened. The kin not only beat the doctors but the hospital staff as well.

Following the incident, doctors at the hospital closed the OPD department on Wednesday refusing to attend to any patients unless their demands are fulfilled and it is expected that the OPD will resume again on Thursday.

An FIR has been registered by the police under IPC sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 354 (whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty) and Section 3 Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act.

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Demanding strict action against the accused, the doctors along with other hospital staff started a strike and alleged that the protest will be put down after the accused will be arrested and justice will be served rightfully.

The doctors said that the assaults against doctors are rising each day and no such law is there that could help them in this regard.

A female doctor at the hospital who was also beaten told Rising Kashmir that "The attendants entered my room and started beating and dragging me by the hair, leaving me injured. They also assaulted a security guard who was later sent to Bone and Joint Hospital for treatment and has also sustained several fractures."