SRN hospital resident doctor released after HC intervention, protests called off

Prayagraj: The resident doctor from Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital, Motilal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj, who was arrested after the recent doctors-lawyers clash, has now been released from police custody following the intervention of the Allahabad High Court.

Following this, the resident doctors under the banner of Resident Doctors Association (RDA), Prayagraj, who had been protesting against the alleged “illegal detention” of the PG medico for two days, have called off their protest and resumed all elective services with immediate effect in the interest of patient care.

Sources informed Medical Dialogues that the doctor was released last night after police personnel in civil clothes reportedly picked up from his private residence in Rampur, U.P., without any warrant, formal identification, or disclosure of grounds of detention. His family members who attempted to stop them or seek information regarding his arrest were reportedly manhandled.

RDA, along with FAIMA, FORDA and several other resident doctor bodies, had earlier questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the resident doctor, claiming that it took place despite assurances from the authorities that no coercive action would be taken against resident doctors.

Also read- SRN Hospital violence: Arrest of MLN resident draws backlash, doctors move CM, NHRC

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported on the violent clash that broke out between doctors and lawyers at Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital of MLN Medical College, over an alleged delay in a patient's treatment on May 20.

While the lawyers have claimed that they were allegedly assaulted by doctors after an argument broke out, the doctors have denied the allegations and have stated that a female resident doctor was brutally attacked and the hospital was vandalised by a mob of lawyers.

Following the incident, the medical college authorities formed a three-member inquiry committee and suspended around 20 doctors who were on duty that day.

Later, the resident doctors had initiated a strike, which was ultimately called off after assurance was given that no punitive action would be taken against the resident doctors. Despite this, a PG second-year resident doctor went missing from his residence on Monday.

Now, in an official statement issued on Tuesday, the Resident Doctors’ Association, Uttar Pradesh (RDA UP), said that the arrested resident doctor has been released from custody and the Hon’ble High Court has intervened in the matter, ordered a judicial inquiry and stayed the “one-sided FIR”.

“RDA UP welcomes and sincerely appreciates the intervention of the Hon’ble High Court. This decision has reinforced our faith in the judicial system and reaffirmed that no authority is above the rule of law,” the association stated.

"In view of the Hon’ble High Court’s order and in the larger interest of patient care, RDA UP has decided to resume all services with immediate effect and continue serving patients as before," it added.

At the same time, the association demanded an inquiry into the alleged unlawful arrest of the junior resident doctor from his residence and the alleged mishandling of his family members by police personnel.

RDA UP further emphasized the need to safeguard the rights and security of resident doctors. To prevent recurrence of such incidents, the association reiterated the following demands which include an adequate security measures at all levels in medical colleges and healthcare institutions, strict implementation of NMC guidelines, including mandatory institutional FIRs in cases of violence against healthcare workers.

The association also thanked AIIMS RDA, FORDA, FAIMA and resident doctors across Uttar Pradesh for extending support during the protest.

Commenting on this, Dr Shubhanshu, RDA Trust UP, President told Medical Dialogues, "We had two main demands. First was the release of Dr ***, which was fulfilled last night. Second was either registration of an institutional FIR or quashing of the previous one-sided FIR. Regarding the second demand, the Hon’ble High Court intervened in the matter, ordered a judicial inquiry, stayed the previous FIR and also assured us that no resident doctor would be arrested. In view of the court’s decision and in the larger interest of patient care, we have now resumed all our services."

Sharing the update on its official social media platform 'X', FAIMA doctors association said in a post, "High Court has intervened in matter an ordered a judicial enquiry in this matter & has put stay on FIR. Doctor is released by Police after Court Intervention. We Thanks RDAs from other states who supported RDA Prayagraj and RDA UP in this fight."

Also read- SRN hospital violence: Doctors slam suspension of resident medicos, demand rollback, fair probe