Mumbai News: A disturbing incident has been reported in Mumbai‘s Sion Hospital on Sunday morning, in which a female resident doctor was allegedly assaulted by one patient and a group of his intoxicated attendants. The assault of this doctor comes amid nationwide outrage over the gruesome rape-cum-murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, only raising the spotlight on violence against medical professionals.
Incident Timing and Background
It happened at 3:30 am when the doctor was on duty in the ward, according to the Medical Association of Resident Doctors of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. He came with 7-8 relatives to the hospital, in an inebriated state. The patient, who had already had an altercation prior to coming to the hospital, showed visible injuries. The female resident doctor started examining his wounds after the routine procedure.
Dr. Akshya More, General Secretary of Sion-MARD and BMC-MARD, related the incident: “The patient, already agitated, began verbally abusing the doctor. Instead of intervening, his relatives joined in the abuse, which quickly escalated into physical assault.” Despite the intervention of nurses, the doctor sustained abrasions on her hands. By the time security was summoned, the patient and his relatives had fled the scene.
Growing Violence Against Healthcare Workers
The incident highlights a trend of violence against healthcare workers, often underreported. But following recent tragic events in Kolkata, where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered on duty, the medical community is openly venting its frustrations.
The ghastly incident in Kolkata on August 9 at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has triggered countrywide protests. Doctors, nursing staff, and medical students of Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and several other cities hit the streets to raise slogans of justice and stringent action while protesting against violence on medical professionals.
The recent attack on Sion Hospital hasescooped up demands for security and legislation to protect health workers, saying urgent systemic changes must be made in the way such incidents are dealt with and prevented.
