A Shimla Doctor assaulted a patient inside a ward of the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) on Monday. The incident caught on video and has gone viral on social media. Hospital authorities have suspended the doctor.
The state government and the hospital administration have set up a high-level inquiry committee. They have ordered the doctor to report to the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) at their Shimla headquarters till further notice.
Shimla Doctor suspended for assaulting patient in hospital ward
Naresh Dashta, a relative of the patient, told that the victim is Arjun Pawar, who lives in Cheta village in the Kupi area of Chaupal. Dashta said Pawar came to IGMC for an endoscopy and was an inpatient.
“The doctor gave him a date for the procedure. After it, he was told he had chest-related issues and needed to rest for two hours in the Pulmonary Department,” Dashta explained.
He alleged that while Pawar lay on the bed, senior resident Dr. Raghav Narula and another doctor in the Pulmonary Department treated him poorly. “They spoke rudely to Arjun Pawar. He is a teacher and has never caused trouble. When he told the doctor he had been referred for rest, the doctor kept disrespectful. When Arjun Pawar asked him to speak kindly, the doctor reacted harshly,” Dashta said.
Family and relatives protest outside the hospital
Referring to the viral video, Dashta said, “You can see how a patient on oxygen was hit. Another doctor held his legs, and the patient started bleeding. He warned of protests if serious action isn’t taken. “If the police do not arrest him today, we will protest outside the SP office. We want a fair inquiry committee that includes public representatives. The patient is stable and receiving treatment, but investigations are ongoing.”
Read also: ‘H-1B, H-4 Visa Alert’: US Embassy Warns of Enhanced Vetting, Interview Delays