HIMS junior doctors' protest enters third day

The protest by the junior doctors of Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) condemning the assault on a house surgeon entered third day on Tuesday.

The junior doctors have stated that they would continue the protest till the accused are arrested.

A house surgeon on duty was attacked by the relatives of a patient on December 31st midnight, when a mishap victim they brought to the hospital was declared dead. They allegedly assaulted the doctor and the paramedical staff on duty and also damaged the hospital property.

Holding placards that said, “Jeeva rakshakara jeevakke kuththu,” the junior doctors wore black bands on their sleeves, as part of their protest.

Attacks on rise
The junior doctors claimed that attacks on doctors were on rise in the hospital. “The college administration has not taken any measures to provide security to the doctors.

Despite lodging of a complaint with regards to the December 31st incident, the police have not taken the issue seriously. As a formality, they have taken a couple of people into custody. The protest will be intensified if police does not arrest the accused immediately,” they warned.

The protesters explained that the senior doctor on duty was busy examining another patient, when the mishap victim was brought to the hospital. The house surgeons who were present there confirmed that the victim was dead. This irked the victim’s kin who attacked the doctor and the nurses.

On a rampage
The accused went on a rampage damaging the hospital property, they claimed. Even after three days, the accused have not been arrested. The protest will continue till the district administration considers the issue seriously, they added.

Speaking to DH, HIMS Director Dr B C Ravikumar said that the junior doctors are on a strike demanding the arrest of the accused.

“The police have arrested two persons so far. Other accused will soon be arrested. The protesting doctors are being convinced to withdraw the protest. Measures are in place to ensure that the patients are not affected by the strike. All senior doctors are on duty,” he added.