VIP Culture: Mizoram CM's Daughter hits Dermatologist, Father tenders apology after severe backlash from Doctors

Aizawl: In yet another example of errors of the VIP culture, an Aizawl-based Dermatologist became a victim of a brutal attack by none other than the Mizoram CM's daughter when he allegedly asked her to wait as he was seeing other patients. The purported video of the incident has gone viral on social media triggering a severe backlash from the medical fraternity.

After over 800 doctors staged a protest on Saturday, condemning the alleged assault, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga tendered a public apology on his official Instagram handle for his daughter's "misbehaviour" with a doctor earlier in the week, and said that he would, in no way, justify her conduct.

According to media accounts, the incident reportedly occurred on 17 August at a clinic in Aizawl. CM's daughter Milari Chhangte had visited the clinic to see a dermatologist Dr Zonunasanga but had not made an appointment. The doctor then refused to see Milari and asked her to get a prior appointment for a consultation. As seen in the video, she was then seen walking up to the doctor and hitting him on his face while another man was attempting to restrain her and take her away.

In another video clip, the woman was seen yelling at the doctor from outside the door until her security guard finally led her away.

The footage of the incident went viral on social media and outraged many on the inaction against the CM's daughter.

Condemning the assault, over 800 doctors associated with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Mizoram on Saturday staged a protest. Members of the IMA wore black badges to their workplaces during the day.

"We want that such acts of violence against medical practitioners should never be repeated," the association had said in the statement.

The IMA had also urged the state government to enact the Mizoram Protection of Medical Service Personnel and Medical Service Institution (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Loss of Property Act, drafted and submitted to the government by the association.

CM's response

The viral video had urged the CM to take to his official Instagram account and post a public apology letter undersigned by himself and his wife. The apology, handwritten in the regional language, stated that he would in no way justify his daughter's conduct and that his entire family had "nothing to say" in defence of her behaviour. The CM, taking to Instagram, said that he had visited the dermatologist and offered an apology.

Tendering an apology to the doctor and well as the public, he extended his gratitude to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) for not taking any stringent action against her.

"We have nothing to justify or say in defence of our daughter's behaviour towards the doctor. We ask forgiveness from the doctor and the public," the CM said.

It added that the chief minister and his wife had visited the doctor three times to apologise. "The doctor and his family were very kind and understanding to the point that it was embarrassing for us. We think they are very mature and we really appreciate them," Zoramthanga said in the statement.

"Even if more stringent action was taken (by the IMA), it would not have been out of line and wholly warranted. However, they have taken only this step and have been mature, and we really respect the maturity they have shown. We also want to say that we will do whatever we can so that something like this does not happen again," Zoramthanga said.

Earlier, Chhangte's elder brother Ramthansiama had also tendered a public apology on social media saying her sister went out of control due to mental stress caused by the wounds on her forehead.

A member of IMA Mizoram, who did not wish to be named, told The Indian Express that the dermatologist was "initially taken aback" by the incident, but has now accepted the chief minister's "heartfelt apology". "He understands that sometimes patients act out… he is not taking any calls from the media because it has suddenly become such a high-profile case," said the member.

He added that it was probably the first time such an incident had happened in Mizoram. "Unfortunately, it involved the CM's daughter," he said, adding: "We do not have anything against her or the CM, we are protesting violence against doctors… We would have protested in solidarity regardless of who the assaulter was."

The IMA member said that the chief minister handled the issue in a very "mature manner". "It was a heartfelt personal statement… We really appreciate how he handled the whole thing. So we have decided to forgive and forget," he said.