On-duty female doctor threatened, verbally abused by patient's kin at Puttur Govt Hospital

Mangaluru: In a shocking incident, a woman doctor at Puttur Government Hospital in Karnataka was allegedly verbally abused, misbehaved and threatened by two relatives visiting a newborn. The duo reportedly attempted to assault the doctor when she asked them to move out of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) since it was violating hospital protocol.

The doctor, an ophthalmologist and chief medical officer who was on duty at the hospital, allegedly asked a woman and her son not to sit on the beds in the NICU and move out since the hospital does not allow patients' relatives inside the NICU to prevent the risk of infection. Becoming aggressive over this, the woman and her son used filthy words towards the doctor.

After the doctor filed a complaint at Women's police station, the police registered a case against the two relative under Sections 74 (assault or criminal force to woman with intention to outrage here modesty) and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Medicare Service Personnel and Damage to Property in Medicare Service Institutions Act 2009.

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As per the PTI report, the incident took place when the doctor was on her regular rounds around noon on Friday. She noticed a group of people, including the accused, visiting a female patient and her child. The female patient recently delivered a baby. However, she noticed that the visitors were violating hospital protocols.

When she advised the visitors to limit their numbers and adhere to hospital guidelines, two members of the group allegedly became aggressive, verbally abused her, and misbehaved with her. Hospital staff quickly intervened, and the matter was brought to the attention of the authorities.

Coming out in support of the doctor, the medical fraternity and various organizations, including members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Mangaluru, the Association of Medical Consultants (AMC), and the Ayush Federation, condemned the incident and staged a protest and road blockade, setting a deadline for the arrest of the accused. BJP members and Hindu organisations also joined the protest. The protesters sat on the road and blocked the road near the Women's Police Station for about half an hour, demanding strict action against the culprits.

In a statement, the IMA said the incident was a direct attack on the dignity, authority and safety of a senior gazetted officer of the government. That a woman doctor was subjected to such a behaviour was both shocking and shameful.

The Hindu reported that AMC in its statement said, "The 2009 Act was amended in 2024 to make it more effective. The provisions of the Act should be used to serve as deterrent to miscreants and trouble makers. If matters of safety of women doctors are taken lightly, it is quite likely there will be repeat of assault of health worker in Kolkata in 2024, which shocked the nation."

In solidarity with the protest, doctors and hospital staff in Puttur went on a flash strike and suspended all services except emergency treatment. Staff wore black bands to register their protest against the attack.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Thimmaiah H R also condemned the incident, stressing the need for ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals. “Doctors and medical staff work tirelessly to serve patients, and any form of intimidation or harassment will not be tolerated,” he said.

Speaking to TOI, Dr Ganesh Prasad Mudraje, secretary of IMA, Puttur, said, "The doctor was targeted by the accused for not allowing them to enter the NICU, where a newborn baby was being treated. Hospitals do not entertain patients' relatives inside the NICU to prevent the spread of infection. Accordingly, Dr ***, who was on duty, politely requested the patient's relatives not to gather inside the NICU. However, the relatives took the doctor to task and started showering abusive words loudly."

"Now, Dr *** is also being targeted through social media by sharing contentious messages against her. Another complaint will also be filed against this. While doctors in private hospitals boycotted outpatient duties, those in govt hospitals have been fulfilling their emergency responsibilities. If police fail to arrest the accused, then we will commence an indefinite strike, and the govt will be responsible for any consequences. A paediatrician at the govt hospital resigned due to a similar incident in the past," Dr Ganesh added.

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