GTB Hospital: Doctors, staff allegedly attacked by patient's attendants while on emergency duty
New Delhi: On-duty doctors and hospital staff were allegedly assaulted, while hospital property was damaged at the emergency facility of Delhi’s Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital after the condition of a road accident victim deteriorated during treatment.
The incident took place early Thursday after the patient's condition deteriorated while he was undergoing treatment at the emergency facility, which has been shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Tahirpur.
The patient had been referred from Lok Nayak Hospital on August 19 after suffering an internal brain injury in a road accident. His condition reportedly worsened while doctors were attempting to resuscitate him.
According to the hospital administration, several attendants became agitated during the emergency treatment and allegedly created a disturbance inside the facility. Window panes were reportedly smashed, causing damage to hospital property.
The hospital further alleged that some attendants threatened and intimidated doctors, nurses and other staff members. It claimed that healthcare workers were attacked using broken glass and knives and that one of the attendants was allegedly carrying a pistol. Police personnel were present at the facility when the incident occurred.
Despite the alleged violence, one of the attendants who sustained injuries from broken glass was treated at the hospital’s surgery emergency ward, the administration said.
Following the incident, senior hospital officials inspected the emergency facility and reviewed security arrangements. Additional measures were subsequently put in place to protect doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.
The hospital administration also approached the police and requested registration of an FIR and action against those allegedly involved in the incident. Officials said the incident had left several members of the medical and nursing staff traumatised.
Police are investigating the matter. No response was available from the patient’s family regarding the allegations made by the hospital.
