3 Patient Relatives held for assaulting Resident Doctor in Nanded

Three relatives of a patient admitted to the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital, Nanded were arrested on Monday for allegedly assaulting a resident doctor.

Dean of Nanded GMCH Dilip Mhaisekar said that a patient suffering from brain ailment was admitted to the hospital about two days ago and his condition was critical. “After thorough investigations, it was diagnosed that the patient was suffering from cerebral infarction, which is a type of ischemic stroke resulting from blockage in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain,” he said.

The hospital had informed the relatives about the patient’s serious condition. However, on Monday, when the patient’s condition turned critical, the women relatives present with the patient were told to inform other family members of the patient’s deteriorating health condition.

“Despite informing about the patient’s condition, none of the male relatives came to the hospital. When the patient succumbed to the disease, about three male relatives arrived at the hospital and started creating a ruckus. They not only assaulted a resident doctor on duty but also manhandled the nurse, who was pregnant,” said Mhaisekar.

The hospital security personnel intervened and tried to bring the situation under control. The local police too were informed about the development. The hospital authorities have lodged a complaint with the Nanded rural police, who have arrested the three relatives.

The three relatives have been booked for obstructing government employees in their duty and further investigations were under way, said the investigating police officer.

Considering the rising assaults on the doctors, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors has demanded that the government amend the Doctors Protection Act, 2010 to increase the imprisonment period from 7 years to 8 years.

“Scenes of doctors being attacked and assaulted by the relatives of the patients has become a regular affair with 32 assaults being reported from state government medical colleges hospitals last year. This is the first case registered this year,” MARD president Sagar Mundada said.
The Nanded GMCH has seen seven attacks on resident doctors in the last one-and-a-half years. “In such circumstances, it has become difficult for the resident doctors to render their services,” said MARD president (Nanded chapter) Sanju Mutyepod.
MARD has been constantly demanding improvement in security systems at GMCH and change in the law protecting doctors from assaults. “But unfortunately, the incidents of assaults have continued. If the government fails to increase security, we will have to resort to extreme measures,” said Mundada.

source: timesofindia.com