Group assaults 3 Nair Hospital doctors, booked
The MARD has urged the government to heed its plea and come up with a strict central law to ensure the safety of doctors.
Mumbai: Around 15 relatives of a deceased patient have been booked for assaulting three medical residents and security guards at the civic-run Nair Hospital on Sunday evening.
The incident comes a few weeks after nationwide protests were held in the wake of a brutal assault on doctors in Kolkata.
According to Dr Kalya-ni Dongre, the president of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), Rajk-ishor Dixit, a 49-year-old critically ill patient who had been admitted to ward 23, passed away after removing a breathing tube at 6.30 pm on Sunday.
“After his demise, when the three resident doctors concerned — Dr Dipali Patil, Dr Gaurav Gunjan and Dr Moiz Vora — informed his kin, a mob rushed into the ward and starting abusing and attacking the trio,” she said.
Dr Dongre added that the accused even attacked the security guards and damaged hospital property.
An first information report has been filed at the Agripada police station, she said. “When will these brutal incidents end? We, the medical fraternity, are under tremendous mental stress due to increasing cases of violence,” said Dr Dongre.
Meanwhile, the MARD has urged the government to heed its plea and come up with a strict central law to ensure the safety of doctors. “We demand that the state government make the necessary changes in the existing Doctor’s Protect-ion Act and formulate solid norms on mob lynching. At the college administration level, security audits, the pass system and emergency alarm system, should be effective promptly and urgently in all colleges,” said a MARD member.
A senior inspector at the Agripada police station said, “The patient had been suffering from HIV, TB and pneumonia for a month and was receiving treatment at Nair Hospital. On Sunday evening, alleging that his tube had been removed, the patient’s kin created chaos and started abusing and pushing the doctors and security guards. We have registered an FIR under sections 353, 332, 504 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners’ Act and an offence under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act was also registered.”