Strike by govt hospital docs hits OPD services

Protest against assault by patient's kin, standoff ends

Doctors at the Delhi government-run Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital went on a strike after a patient’s family manhandled its staff alleging medical negligence on Saturday.

The strike was called off on Tuesday evening after the doctors were promised better security measures at the hospital.

All outdoor patient department services were suspended till then.

A 12-year-old boy was admitted at the hospital in Malviya Nagar last Friday with dengue, said the police. The patient died the next day, they added.

Following this, around 10 members from the boy’s family allegedly assaulted the hospital staff.

“Two doctors and two nurses were manhandled by the patient’s family who alleged medical negligence on the doctors’ part. The patient’s family was from Fatehpur Beri area,” said the police.

The family was informed of the death around 4 am and the doctors were assaulted half an hour later, said hospital sources.

However, the patient’s family allegedly went on a rampage in the hospital around 6:30 am. “This was in presence of the police.

They caused destruction to hospital property breaking glasses. We have filed an FIR in the case,” said Dr Ramesh Chugh, medical superintendent, Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital.

However, there was no damage to surgical equipment, said sources.

“The patient died of shock syndrome and there was internal bleeding,” said Dr Chugh. Shock syndrome is a complication associated with severe dengue infection.

“Around 10 family members got agitated and claimed that the hospital staff were negligent and attacked them suddenly,” said a resident doctor, who was an eyewitness to the incident.

One doctor received stitches above his eyebrow while a nurse had a deep cut on her neck, said a source.

The doctors went on strike from Saturday onwards demanding better security arrangements at the hospital. All outdoor patient services were disrupted till Tuesday evening when they called it off.

“We attended to patients at the emergency ward. We have demanded round-the-clock security arrangements. How can doctors work if they are vulnerable to sudden attacks?” said a senior doctor at the hospital.

The hospital is now planning to expand its security system to handle such incidents on the hospital premises.

“We will recruit guards from a new security agency. Also, we will have more security guards now,” said Dr Chugh.