Telangana resident doctors condemn attack on NIMS doctor, demand special protection

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Resident Doctors Association (TRDA) of NIMS has strongly condemned the attack on a senior resident doctor on Thursday morning by patients' attendees at NIMS hospital.

According to the association, a mob of 10-12 attendants stormed into ARCU (Acute Renal Care Unit) and assaulted senior resident Rahul who was treating a female patient.

When he had tried to pacify the attendants and explain the problem to them, one of them hit Dr Rahul on the shoulder, grabbed his neck, and tried to choke him.

Attendants also prevented doctors from administering CPR on another patient.

The 62-year-old female patient, who died, was, in fact, admitted to NIMS in critical condition on May 11. The patient received the best care available at NIMS, but she died the next morning from Emphysematous pyelonephritis and sepsis.

The assault on senior residents of the Nephrology department by the deceased patient's attendants left the resident doctors deeply distressed.

An official statement by the Telangana Resident Doctors Association said, "RDA NIMS strongly condemns and stands against any form of violence or harassment against doctors. The unruly attendants stopped doctors from 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, and we get assaults and harassment in return from society. The Telangana government should take urgent and stringent action with strict punishment to the culprits."

The statement further said, "A few days ago, the Kerala high court said the government should protect doctors or else shut down hospitals. We also demand a special protection force as per G.O. Ms. No. 103 for the prevention of violence against doctors and healthcare personnel. If the Telangana government cannot protect doctors in the future, all senior and junior doctors will protest,” and boycott duties.

It may be recalled that a 23-year-old lady doctor (intern) was stabbed to death on Wednesday at a hospital in the Kottarakkara area of Kerala's Kollam district, allegedly by a patient, a suspended school teacher, who was brought there by police after a disagreement with his family members.

The slew of attacks on doctors have been on the rise in the recent past across India.