Doctors at lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (lNJP) Hospital went on strike after relatives of a female patient physically attacked them at the Emergency Ward.
A mob of around 50-60 people attacked resident doctors on Monday morning. Piqued at being targeted for doing their work, the doctors went on strike demanding security at work place. According to the senior resident doctor at the hospital, there was no home guard deputed at the hospital when the incident took place.
“last night, a pregnant woman had come to the gynaecology casualty. She developed respiratory distress and started gasping. Despite giving appropriate possible treatment, patient could not be revived,” said the senior resident doctor at lNJP hospital. And knowing the condition of their patient, the relative and attendant of the deceased started abusing us. They threw chairs and a few bottles of normal saline on us, added the doctor.
“At least 25 such incidents of attack on doctors have happened, since July last year when doctors had called for strike to demand security at workplace and the Delhi Government has done nothing,” informed the doctor.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Dr YK Sarin Medical Superintendent of lok Nayak hospital said, “There was some mishandling with the nursing orderly and other hospital staff last night. Every time, a patient is brought in critical condition and when s/he dies during medical aid, attendants start attacking doctors. However, an FIR has been lodged to the IP State Police station regarding the matter”, he added.
“We will make sure that such incidents do not happen in future and hoping that doctors and nursing orderly resume their work from Tuesday,” said Dr Sarin.
It may be noted that a total of 105 home guards were supposed to be deployed at lok Nayak and GB Pant Hospital, 75 at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, 50 at Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, 45 at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and 30 each at Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital and Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, but doctors said till date they haven’t seen home guards deployed for respective hospitals.