Nurse after death of critically ill patient

Staffers went on strike, resumed work after police filed an FIR against patient’s relatives; no arrests yet

In the second such incident in a week, three doctors and a nurse at Nashik General Hospital were assaulted by a mob after a patient died during treatment.

The 700-member staffers at the hospital, which has four guards, have threatened to resign unless they were provided with more security.

The assault took place at a time when the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) is protesting against assaults on doctors. Over 1,000 doctors from MARD and Indian Medical Association staged an agitation at Azad Maidan on Friday morning. They were protesting the attack on Dr Rahul Mhamunkar of Dhule Civil Hospital, who was beaten up by the relatives of a patient after he referred the patient to another facility.

Dr S P Jagdale, medical superintendent of Nashik General Hospital, said that the attacks on the three doctors and the nurse took place at 10.30pm on Thursday when a patient who was diagnosed with swine flu was brought to the hospital in a critical condition. “We told the family that the patient was extremely critical and there was a little chance that the treatment could save him. They asked for a written confirmation and we gave it to them,” said Dr Jagdale.

The patient was allegedly brought to the hospital after a preliminary treatment at Sangamner. “They forced us to admit the patient. However, he died during treatment and the 25-30 people who had accompanied him turned violent,” added Dr Jagdale.

The mob allegedly thrashed Dr Rahul Patil, two trainee doctors and a nurse. “They yanked the nurse’s apron and belt so hard that it tore her uniform. Those people were violent beyond control. We have informed the local police station about the incident,” said Dr Jagdale. While none of the staffers sustained severe injuries, they did suffer bruises and minor cuts.

Officials from Directorate of Health Services said that 18 guards are allotted to the hospital but only four works in one shift. The hospital doesn’t have any security from the local police station.

The hospital staffers immediately called for a strike after the incident. It was called off at 3pm on Friday after the police officials filed an FIR.

Investigating officer Mithun Mhatre said that they registed a case after receiving a written complaint from the hospital. “No one has been arrested yet,” he said.