Mob vandalises Malda Hospital, assaults doctor, staff after patient's death
Malda: A mob allegedly vandalised the hospital and assaulted an on-duty doctor and several healthcare workers at Ratua Rural Hospital in Malda following the death of a 55-year-old patient after an alleged electrocution.
The deceased, a labourer, was reportedly working at Jakirnagar around 10:30 am when he came into contact with an 11,000-volt overhead power line while loading maize onto a truck. Local residents subsequently took him to Ratua Rural Hospital, where doctors on duty reportedly declared him brought dead.
However, the deceased’s family members alleged that he was alive when he reached the hospital and claimed that adequate treatment was not provided. The allegations led to an argument between the family and hospital staff, which later escalated into violence.
According to The Telegraph India, an on-duty doctor, three nurses and two Group-D employees were allegedly injured in the incident. Police were called to the hospital after the situation escalated, while some protesters also reportedly clashed with the police.
Hospital equipment and furniture were allegedly damaged during the protest. Protesters also reportedly attempted to prevent the deceased’s body from being taken for post-mortem examination.
Police detained two people to bring the situation under control, following which the body was sent for post-mortem examination. Additional police personnel were deployed at the hospital as tension continued for several hours.
Hospital authorities said the violence disrupted healthcare services at the facility. A police source said a case had been registered and an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the death and the subsequent violence.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a doctor at the government-run Sassoon General Hospital in Pune was allegedly assaulted by a patient's relative in the emergency ward while he was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the critically ill patient.
