Hyderabad: Attack by patient’s attendants draws government hospital doctors ’ ire

Hyderabad: Doctors in various government hospitals staged a protest after attendants of a deceased patient attacked a senior resident of the nephrology department in NIMS on Thursday.

According to NIMS doctors, a 62-year-old woman patient was admitted in critical condition during early hours on Thursday. The doctors provided treatment to the patient but she succumbed due to Emphysematous pyelonephritis and sepsis in the morning.

A mob of 10-12 attendants barged into ARCU and tried to attack treating woman senior resident. When her senior intervened and tried to calm down and explain the situation to attendants, one hit the senior on shoulder, held neck and tried to throttle him. The unruly attendants stopped doctors performing CPR on another patient.

“These heinous acts and uncivilised people are a threat to society. We work day and night to treat and save patients. We get assaults and harassment in return by society,” said Dr Jeeshan, the president of Resident Doctors’ Association, NIMS.

In a statement issued here the association members said, “RDA NIMS strongly condemns and stands against any form of violence or harassment against doctors. The Telangana government should take urgent and stringent action with strict punishment on culprits.” If the government cannot protect doctors in the future, all senior and junior doctors will protest and will shut down hospitals, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association strongly condemned the attack on doctors and demanded strict action against the culprits. “We request the government to announce hospitals as protected zones and formulate necessary protocols to protect doctors and health care professionals while treating patients,” Dr J Vijay Rao, said the association president.

The Telangana Junior Doctors’ Association expressed its concern and condemned the violent incident.

“T JUDA strongly condemns such violent acts and calls upon authorities to take immediate and necessary action to ensure safety of doctors and healthcare professionals. The safety of doctors and other healthcare professionals is crucial in providing quality healthcare services to communities.

The incident at NIMS is unacceptable; T JUDA wants to highlight the urgent need for greater protection of healthcare workers, said the association president Dr P Kaushik Kumar.