Capital Hospital doctor attacked over treatment delay, colleagues protest
Bhubaneswar: Tension gripped Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar after a relative of a patient allegedly assaulted an on-duty doctor from the orthopaedics department, fracturing his left hand.
In protest against the assault, doctors on Saturday wore black badges, condemning the alleged attack that took place a day earlier. The incident reportedly occurred over a heated argument after an accident victim was not examined at the OPD.
According to the protesting doctors, a relative of the patient from Puri district’s Nimapada, who had come to Capital Hospital for treatment on Friday, allegedly attacked a doctor with a helmet following a heated argument, news agency PTI reported.
A dressing staff member was also assaulted during the incident. Hospital officials said that the doctor suffered a bone injury in his left hand.
Police said a case had been registered based on a complaint by the injured doctor, and one person has been arrested in this connection.
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The accused has been identified as Bindu Sagar Rout (39), a police officer said.
“If we are physically assaulted while performing our duties, how can we serve people without fear? Our primary demand is adequate security at the hospital,” a protesting doctor said.
Despite the protest, hospital authorities and the JDA emphasised that patient care remained uninterrupted, with OPD services functioning normally. However, they warned of suspending OPD if the government does not implement adequate security measures soon, reports Odisha Bytes.
Another doctor claimed that such incidents have occurred twice over the past few months.
Health and Family Welfare Secretary Aswathy S visited the hospital and held discussions with the protesting doctors and authorities.
“It is our duty to provide security to doctors. We will take all care to ensure the safety of the medics,” she told reporters.
Stating that action has already been taken, the secretary said police have arrested one person in the case.
“We are in constant touch with the police to ensure that any other persons involved in the attack are also arrested,” she said.
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